Characterization of pulmonary function and chest film image of workers exposed to dust in Guangzhou

Objective To observe the adverse effects of occupational exposure to dust on workers' pulmonary ventilation function and to discuss the role of pulmonary ventilation function and chest X-ray examinations in the health surveillance among dust-exposed workers. Methods The pulmonary ventilation function and chest X-ray examinations were done among 700 dust-exposed workers with exposure time more than 4 years and 700 workers without any records of dust exposure. Results The indicators of the pulmonary function, the standardized FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC were lower in the exposed workers(P<0.05). Kappa test showed that change of FVC and FEV₁ were not consistent with the results of chest X-ray examination (the matching coefficient, 0.036 and-0.042, P>0.05). By McNemar test, it was noted that change of the pulmonary ventilation function was more obvious than the change of the chest radiograph; while FVC and FEV₁ had good correlation (the matching coefficient, 0.623,P<0.01). Conclusion The dust exposure caused the damage of pulmonary function. The pulmonary ventilation function and chest X-ray examination should be included in the regular health surveillance, since change of pulmonary ventilation function occurred very early if there was damage.