Effect of wood-dust on lower respiratory symptoms and lung function in wood industrial workers in Ajman and Sharjah

ABSTRACT

To compare the lower respiratory tract symptoms and peak expiratory flow [PEF] of wood workers with that of office workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 53 industrial wood-workers [WW] in Ajman and Sharjah and 97 office workers [OW] from university and hospital settings, using a convenient sampling method. An interview-based questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic details and information on lower respiratory symptoms, and a EU-Scale Mini-Wright peak flow meter to measure the PEF. The measurements were taken at the beginning of the week for wood workers and at the end of the week for both wood workers and office workers. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, paired t test for difference in PEF among wood workers, and for associations Chi-square and logistic regression were performed. All woodworkers were males, half the samples being above the age of 40 years; 48.5% of office workers were females and 82.5% below 40 years of age. Most were Indian nationals in both groups. Lower respiratory symptoms in the previous six months were more among OW [26, 73.3%] than WW [23, 43.3%]; in both WW and OW the most common were cough [35.8%, 23.7%] and shortness of breath [24.5%, 9.3%]. PEF was less than normal in 26 [66.7%] of the WW as against 13 [33.3%] of the OW. Mean end-of-week PEF in WW was lower at the end of a week than at the beginning, and less than in the OW, the results in both being not statistically significant. There was 5.9 times more risk of developing lower respiratory symptoms in wood workers who smoked. Exposure to wood dust leads to lower PEF, emphasizing the need of periodic health checkups for all wood workers. Smoking adds to the occupational risk factor and therefore they should be advised to quit smoking