Occupational health surveillance: pulmonary function testing and oxidative stress among photocopying workers in Pakistan

• Published in: Medycyna pracy Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 403 - 410
• Main Authors: Javed, Houda, Ghani, Nadia, Ghani, Natasha, Fatima, Ammara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Air pollution; Asthma; Biomarkers; Bronchitis; Copying Processes; Disease; EDTA; Emissions; Health surveillance; Humans; Inflammation; Job stress; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Lung - physiopathology; Lungs; Machinery; Male; malondialdehyde; Nanoparticles; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Health; Outdoor air quality; Oxidative Stress; Pakistan; Peroxides; Photocopiers; photocopying machines; pulmonary function test; Pulmonary function tests; Respiratory symptoms; Smoking; Spirometry; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - analysis; toner; Wheezing; Workers; Young Adult; Pakistan; Lahore Pakistan; photocopying machines; malondialdehyde; pulmonary function test; lipid peroxidation; toner; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 0465-5893; 2353-1339
• DOI: 10.13075/mp.5893.00820

The photocopying occupation contributes to various health issues in workers. Elevated levels of oxidative stress have been found to be associated with respiratory problems in occupational workers. The intention of the current research is to evaluate the association between the pulmonary function parameters, a biomarker of oxidative stress, and the photocopying occupation in Lahore, Pakistan. The study was performed on a group of photocopying operators (N = 100) and a control group (N = 100). A structured questionnaire was developed to gather the demographic attributes. Lung function testing was done with the spirometer. The blood lipid peroxides level, as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), was assessed spectrophotometrically. A statistically significant reduction was found in the pulmonary function parameters as compared to the control group. In the study group, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, including cough (31%), sneezing (18%), wheezing (9%) and breathing issues (19%), was high as compared to the control group. A significantly higher plasma TBARS concentration was observed in the photocopying workers. A negative correlation prevailed between FVC (-0.081), FVC% predicted (-0.038) and FEV1 (-0.043), and the duration of exposure. The study showed that the occupational exposure could have a significant effect on the normal pulmonary function and the oxidative potential of well-being. The profound emissions in the vicinity of photocopying centers may be responsible for the variations in the pulmonary function parameters and oxidative stress. Med Pr. 2019;70(4):403-10.