Publication:

Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1st second and forced expiratory ratio in automobile spray paint workers

Background Automobile industry is a place where workers are exposed to harmful chemicals and toxic substances. Workers engaged in automobile spray painting are at a risk of developing respiratory problems. This is due to exposure to low molecular weight compounds (isocyanates) in spray paints.

Methods The present study was conducted on 100 male subjects comprising of the study group (n=50) and the control group (n=50), 18-35 years of age, non-smoker and with no pre occupational respiratory illness. The study group included workers working for 6-8 hours a day and exposed to spray paints for ≤5 years and the controls were age and BSA matched healthy office workers of the same locality. A preformed questionnaire was given to subjects and pulmonary functions parameters (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC)) were recorded by computerised spirometer (Medspiror).

Results The two groups did not differ significantly on physical parameters. The pulmonary function parameters of the study group (FVC p=0.036, FEV1/FVC p=0.000) were found to be significantly different when compared to that of controls. As the age, weight, height and BSA increases there was a significant decrease in FEV1 in study group. Duration of exposure (<3 and more than equal to 3) had no statistically significant impact on pulmonary function tests (FVC p=0.139, FEV1 p=0.339, FEV1/FVC p=0.158) in the study  group.

Conclusions Exposure to automobile spray paint impairs lung functions.