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Mozaffari S, Heibati B, Jaakkola MS, Lajunen TK, Kalteh S, Alimoradi H, Nazari M, Karimi A and Jaakkola JJK (2023) Effects of occupational exposures on respiratory health in steel factory workers. Front. Public Health 11:1082874. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1082874

Effects of occupational exposures on respiratory health in steel factory workers

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Author: Mozaffari, Sajjad1; Heibati, Behzad2,3; Jaakkola, Maritta S.2,3;
Organizations: 1Department of Occupational Health and Safety, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
3Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
4Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5Esfahan Steel Company and Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
6Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
7Atmospheric Composition Research Unit, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Format: article
Version: published version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 0.2 MB)
Persistent link: http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi-fe20230922136168
Language: English
Published: Frontiers Media, 2023
Publish Date: 2023-09-22
Description:

Abstract

Background: The steel factory work environment contains various chemical exposures that can affect indoor air quality and have impact on respiratory health of the workers.

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess potential effects of occupational exposures in steel factory workers in Iran on the respiratory symptoms, occurrence and the lung function levels.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 133 men working in a steel factory forming the exposed group and 133 male office workers forming the reference group from a steel company in Iran. The participants filled in a questionnaire and underwent spirometry. Work history was used both as dichotomous (exposed/reference) and a quantitative measure of exposure, the latter measured as duration of exposure in the specified work (in years) for the exposed group and zero for the reference group.

Results: Multiple linear regression and Poisson regression were used to adjust for confounding. In Poisson regression analyses, an increased prevalence ratio (PR) of all respiratory symptoms was observed in the exposed group. Lung function parameters were significantly reduced in the exposed group (p < 0.001). There was a dose–response relation between duration of occupational exposures and reduction in the predicted value of FEV1/FVC level (0.177, 95% CI −0.198 to −0.156) in all models.

Conclusion: The results of these analyses showed that occupational exposures in steel factory work increase the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and reduce lung function. Safety training and workplace conditions were found to need improvement. In addition, use of proper personal protective equipment is recommended.

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Series: Frontiers in public health
ISSN: 2296-2565
ISSN-E: 2296-2565
ISSN-L: 2296-2565
Volume: 11
Article number: 1082874
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1082874
OADOI: https://oadoi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1082874
Type of Publication: A1 Journal article – refereed
Field of Science: 3142 Public health care science, environmental and occupational health
Subjects:
air quality
epidemiological
pulmonary function (PF)
respiratory symptom
steel industry
Article
Funding: This study was not funded by the industry itself or by any governmental agency. BH was funded by Biocenter Oulu, Finland. TL was financially supported by the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation and by Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. JJ and MJ were supported by the Academy of Finland (grant no. 310372).
Academy of Finland Grant Number: 310372
Detailed Information: 310372 (Academy of Finland Funding decision)
Copyright information: © 2023 Mozaffari, Heibati, Jaakkola, Lajunen, Kalteh, Alimoradi, Nazari, Karimi and Jaakkola. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/