Abstract

Background: Ballari, popularly known as Jean capital of India. Jeans washer men are exposed to chemicals that cause lung diseases in the long run .Till now there are very few international studies done on these populations regarding their respiratory health. So this study may give some insights of the occupational respiratory diseases in jeans washer men of Ballari. Objective: To study the variations in the dynamic PFT’s in jeans washer men who were exposed to the harmful chemicals for more than 5 years and comparing them with the normal healthy individuals who were not exposed to the harmful chemicals. Materials and Method: The sample populations (100) were selected from both the rural and urban population of Ballari. Dynamic PFT’s: FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF 25-75 % and PEFR were measured by using RMS Helios 401 spirometer. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the level of FEV1/FVC % , FVC, FEV1, FEF 25-75% and PEFR in cases compared to controls. Among cases 26% of them were suffering from early small airway obstruction & mild restriction, 22% of them from early small airway obstruction & mild obstruction & 84% of them were suffering from restrictive type of COPD severity. Conclusion: The lowering of all the dynamic PFT’s compared to controls suggested a combination of restrictive & obstructive patterns in their lungs. Reduction in their dynamic lung functions was possibly associated with exposure to chemicals for more than 5 years duration.

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