Respiratory disorders associated with occupational inhalational exposure to bioaerosols among wastewater treatment workers of petrochemical complexes

Workers in wastewater treatment plants are exposed to a wide range of chemicals as well as biological contaminants. To ascertain whether exposure to bio-aerosols under the normal working conditions in wastewater treatment plants is associated with any significant changes in the prevalence of respira...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:international journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2015-01, Vol.6 (1), p.41-49
Main Authors: Jahangiri, M, Neghab, M, Nasiri, G, Aghabeigi, M, Khademian, V, Rostami, R, Kargar, V, Rasooli, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aerosols - adverse effects
Bacteria
Female
Fungi
Humans
Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects
Inhalation Exposure - analysis
Iran - epidemiology
Lung - drug effects
Male
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Diseases - microbiology
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Prevalence
Respiration Disorders - epidemiology
Respiration Disorders - etiology
Respiration Disorders - microbiology
Respiratory Function Tests
Surveys and Questionnaires
Waste Water - microbiology
Water Microbiology
Water Purification
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Summary:Workers in wastewater treatment plants are exposed to a wide range of chemicals as well as biological contaminants. To ascertain whether exposure to bio-aerosols under the normal working conditions in wastewater treatment plants is associated with any significant changes in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function capacities. 198 employees of wastewater treatment plants and 99 unexposed persons were studied. American thoracic society (ATS) standard respiratory symptom questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary function tests were conducted for each participant. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exposed persons was significantly higher than that of unexposed people. Mean values of most pulmonary function test parameters were significantly lower in the exposed compared to the comparison group persons. Increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and decrements in pulmonary function test parameters may be attributed to exposure to bio-aerosols released from wastewater treatment plants.
ISSN:2008-6814
DOI:10.15171/ijoem.2015.458