Assessment of pulmonary function of cement industry workers from West Bengal, India

• Published in: Progress in health sciences Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 65
• Main Authors: Mandal, A. "Majee", Majumder, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bialystok Medical University of Bialystok 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Analysis; Cement industry; Chemical workers; Diagnosis; Health aspects; Pulmonary function tests; Respiratory tract diseases; Risk factors; India; India, West Bengal
• ISSN: 2083-1617; 2083-6260

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the basic pulmonary function parameters of cement industry workers from West Bengal. This cross-sectional study was carried out in a cement factory at Durgapur, district Burdwan on male cement industry workers and a control group of office workers. Ninety workers of different sections of cement industry and a control group of 141 office workers participated in this study. All the dynamic pulmonary function parameters were determined by spirometry. Number of years of exposure to cement dust, respiratory symptoms and smoking history if any were recorded. Nineteen percent of higher age group and 28% of lower age group workers had restrictive pulmonary diseases but smokers showed higher percentage of restrictive and combined respiratory diseases. This study demonstrated acute reduction of respiratory functions of cement industry workers from West Bengal. The work signified occupational health hazards of these cement industry workers which indicates an alarming situation if remain unchecked.