Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary functions of workers employed in Turkish textile dyeing factories

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 1068 - 1076
• Main Authors: Ozkurt, Sibel, Kargi, Beyza Akdag, Kavas, Murat, Evyapan, Fatma, Kiter, Göksel, Baser, Sevin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-04-2012; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Coloring Agents; Dyes; Female; Human exposure; Humans; Lung Diseases - epidemiology; Lung Diseases - physiopathology; Male; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - physiopathology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory Function Tests; Textile industry; Textiles; Turkey - epidemiology; Workers; Young Adult; Turkey; pulmonary function test; respiratory symptoms; textile dyes
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph9041068

Dyes are known to be a causative agent of occupational asthma in workers exposed to them. We have evaluated respiratory symptoms among textile workers. The study population comprised 106 exposed workers and a control (unexposed) group. Data were collected by a questionnaire. PFTs (Pulmonary Function Test) were performed. Among the exposed workers 36.8% defined phlegm. Respiratory symptoms were not significantly different between two groups. The employment duration of the exposed workers with phlegm was longer than those without phlegm (p = 0.027). The mean % predicted of FEF(25-75) of the exposed workers was found to be significantly lower than the control (unexposed) group (p = 0.01). Our study suggests that textile dyeing might cause respiratory symptoms in workers.