Restrictive pattern of pulmonary symptoms among photocopy and printing workers: a retrospective cohort study

Background: According to the growth of photocopier usage in workplaces, the potential risk of occupational exposure to the airborne chemicals has been raised up. Hence, monitoring the photocopy worker's respiratory functions seems to be necessary. We aimed to evaluate the respiratory health on photocopy and printing workers so that a reliable description can be made about their occupational hygiene

Methods: This study was performed in Shiraz, southwest Iran in 2014 and a group of 150 photocopy and printing workers were surveyed as exposed group in addition to a group of 114 office staff as unexposed group. The respiratory standard questionnaire was used to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the selected staff. Pulmonary function indexes including VC, FVC, FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio were calculated. Finally, Mest, Chi Square and multiple logistic regressions were conducted

Results: VC, FVC and FEV1 in photocopy and printing workers were lower than the unexposed group of which these differences for FVC and FEV1 were statistically significant [P<0.05]. Moreover, the prevalence of all respiratory symptoms, except the shortness of breath, in exposed group was more than the unexposed group and the prevalence of coughing and wheezing was statistically significant [P<0.05]

There was a significant difference in respiratory symptoms [cough and wheezing] between two groups after controlling for confounding variables, OR: 2.61 [95% Cl: 1.21, 5.62] and 2.92 [95% Cl: 1.25, 6.84], respectively

Conclusions: The prevalence of excess respiratory symptoms along with pattern of pulmonary restrictive sings in photocopy and printing workers revealed that the workplace conditions can result in occupational respiratory diseases

A Descriptive Study of Occupational Health Services in Self-employed Enterprises (Nanoscale Enterprises), Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted with aim of providing an overview of the current status of occupational health services and identifying the most common harmful agents at workplaces of Iranian self-employed enterprises (Nano-Scale Enterprises). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among a random sample including 1,758 employees engaging in self-employed enterprises with 5 and less employees. RESULTS: Coverage of occupational health surveillance was very poor, annual health examinations were been conducted only for 64 (3.64%) of males and 31 (1.76%) of females, and occupational health trainings were not included of the services at all. Personal Protective Equipment were available in 462 (26.3%) of the enterprises. only in 0.4% of the enterprises working processes were been equipped by a local exhaust ventilation system. Difficult postures were the most common (81.5%) adverse working conditions. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a poor level of the implementation of occupational health services in Iranian self-employed enterprises. Based on the findings, providing basic training on the occupational health, more enforcing in conduction of health examinations and providing PPE, and taking appropriate strategies aimed at eliminating or minimizing work environment harmful agents are the major factor that should be considered to improve the level of occupational health services among the studied enterprises.

Evaluation of oral submucosal fibrosis and related factors in areca nut users

Oral Submucousal Fibrosis [OSF] is a precancerous condition often created in consumers of different products containing arecanut. These products are commonly used in countries like India and Pakistan. In Iran, it is commonly consumed in cities which are in proximity of Pakistan border including Chabahar. The present study is done in order to study OSF and other relating factors in consumers of products containing areca nut. In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study, 362 consumers of products containing areca nut [pan, supari, gutka and etc.] were studied in order to examine the incidence of OSF. The diagnostic criteria were mouth-opening limitations, mucosa stiffness and touching the intramucous fibrotic bands. Information about the consumption amount, alternation, the type of consumed material and time of consumption was mentioned in the questionnaire. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS-14 and X[2] test. Of 362 consumers of areca nut [227 men [62.7%] and 135 women [37.3%]] in the age group 7-71 and average age of 27 years old, 61 person [16.9%] including 33 men [54.1%] and 28 women [45.9%] were suffering OSF. There was a significant relationship between OSF incidence and time, dose and alternation of consumption [p<0.05]. Age and sex didn't have a certain correlation with OSF. The recent study indicated a strong correlation between consumption of products containing areca nut and OSF