Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in iron-steel and ferrochrome industry workers.

UNLABELLED: Metallurgical industry workers in developing countries are often exposed to high concentrations of dusts and fumes that affect pulmonary function. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess the prevalence and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the prevalence of symptoms, as well as, the link between work-place air pollution and COPD. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data about smoking and socioeconomic status, past history of pulmonary diseases, current respiratory symptoms, education, and other variables. We have identified and assessed all risk factors and also have performed measurements of dynamic pulmonary function in 459 subjects - 90% of iron-steel and ferrochrome industry workers. The prevalence of COPD oscillated from 19.6% up to 25.7% while severity varied from mild to very severe.

SYMPTOMS: prevalence varied from 12.0% to 46.3% while relative risk for developing COPD was 2.1-5.5 that of non-industry controls. Exposure markers' concentrations: for total suspended particles (TSP) oscillated from 0.375-25.5 mg/m3, particulate matter (PM10) from 0.25 to 10.5 mg/m3, and sulfur dioxide from 0.19-18.69 mg/m3. In majority of cases its average exceeded threshold limit values. Our conclusion was that COPD prevalence and its symptoms are high in the population studied, and that there exists a well established occupational risk between work-place air pollution and COPD.