Biomedical Research

Street cleaners are exposed to different types of dusts, Bio-aerosols and fumes . These have deleterious effect on Lung functions . So we carried out this Study to see the effect of these in occupationally exposed persons that is Street cleaners (working for more than five years). In this Cross Sectional Study the study group comprised of 110 Street cleaners (working for more than five years) of which 80 were non-smokers and 30 were smokers and 60 Control subjects of which 30 were non-smokers and 30 were smokers . The Pulmonary Functions of these workers and Control Subjects were assessed using MIR (Medical International Lab) Spiro Lab II Spirometer in sitting position after taking valid written consent. There wasstatistically significant decrease in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) ,Forced Expiratory Volume in first second( FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio <80% and Forced Expiratory Flow at 25%-75% of volume as percentage of Vital Capacity (FEF 25%-75%). So we found that the Occupational exposure of the workers to harmful dust, gases and Bio-aerosols leads to Obstructive type of impairment of Lung functions .

Author(s): Mohammad Shadab, Dhirendra Kumar Agrawal, Zuber Ahmad*, Mohammad Aslam
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