Skip to main content

Table 2 Lung function stratified by exposure group

From: Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria

 

Reference (n = 123)

Welders (n = 114)

Solvents (n = 106)

Minerals dust (n = 107)

Organic dust (n = 97)

overall p

FVC (%) Mean (SD)

103.9 3 (12.3)

99.5 1 (12.3)

97.81,2 (12.9)

101.5 2,3 (13)

102.5 2,3 (12)

0.03

FEV1 (%) Mean (SD)

102.7 3 (12.4)

98.3 1,2 (12.9)

96.2 1 (13.4)

101.1 2,3 (12)

101.8 2,3 (13.8)

0.01

FEV1/FVC (%) Mean (SD)

82.1 (6.0)

82.2 (6.2)

81.8 (7.3)

82.5 (5.8)

81.7 (6.8)

NS

PEF (%) Mean (SD)

92.5 3 (15.6)

87.1 2 (14.8)

81.8 1 (15.5)

88.5 2,3 (15.5)

90.6 2,3 (17)

<0.0001

MEF25 (%) Mean (SD)

89.7 2 (19.5)

84.3 1,2 (18)

80.8 1 (19.2)

86.6 2 (18.4)

88.4 2 (21.9)

<0.0001

MEF50 (%) Mean (SD)

85.9 (22.2)

81.5 (23.4)

79.3 (23.9)

82.9 (22.2)

85.1 (24.6)

NS

MEF75 (%) Mean (SD)

74.2 (21.6)

72.2 (20.8)

70.3 (24.6)

74.5 (20.1)

74.2 (23.1)

NS

MMEF (%) Mean (SD)

79 2 (21.2)

74.9 1,2 (22.8)

72 1 (22.7)

76.4 1,2 (19.5)

77.8 1,2 (23)

0.16

PD20 Number (%)

4 (3)1

6 (5)1,2

11 (11)2

6 (6)1,2

4 (4)1,2

NS

  1. FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second), PEF (Peak Expiratory Flow), MEF (Maximal Expiratory Flow at given percentage of FVC), MMEF (Maximal Mid-Expiratory Flow), all expressed as percent predicted (according to Quanjer et al. [15]), except for FEV1/FVC where real percentage is given (ratio × 100). PD20: number of subjects with a measurable PD20 (provocative dose of histamine leading to a 20% decrease in FEV1 with respect to the starting value) in the histamine test (n values of group lower by one in each group except in welders).
  2. 1,2,3: groups with the same number in exponent do not differ significantly
Back to article page

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology

ISSN: 1745-6673