Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function impairment among detergent plant workers in Jos, Northern Nigeria

• Published in: Nigerian journal of medicine Vol. 17; no. 4; p. 423
• Main Authors: Babashani, M, Iliyasu, Z, Ukoli, C O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nigeria 01-10-2008
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Detergents - toxicity; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Health Surveys; Humans; Industry; Lung Diseases - epidemiology; Lung Diseases - etiology; Male; Nigeria - epidemiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Odds Ratio; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Prevalence; Respiratory Function Tests; Spirometry; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vital Capacity; Nigeria
• ISSN: 1115-2613
• DOI: 10.4314/njm.v17i4.37426

The industrial process of detergent production could be deleterious to lung function. This study describes respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function impairment among detergent workers in Jos, Northern Nigeria.
Two hundred detergent plant workers and controls were studied for the presence of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function impairment using the MRC questionnaire and Spirometry.
A significantly higher proportion of exposed detergent workers 178 (87.0%) reported respiratory symptoms compared to 52 (26.0%) controls [OR=23; 95% CI=12.9-41.3] (P<0.001). Commonest symptoms include rhinitis (57.5% versus 11.0%) and cough (48.5% versus 15%). Symptoms were most prevalent in the packaging section. FEV1, FVC and PEFR were significantly reduced among exposed detergent workers. Similarly, the predicted values of PEFR, FVC and FEV1, were significantly reduced among smokers (P<0. 001).
Respiratory symptoms are highly prevalent among detergent workers. This was associated with impaired pulmonary function. Protective equipment and periodic lung function tests could reduce these effects.