Change of pulmonary function of workers occupationally exposed to ceramic dust

Objective To observe the characteristics of pulmonary function damage in workers occupationally exposed to ceramic dust. Methods The pulmonary ventilation function was detected among 967 workers exposed to dust in a ceramics factory and 197 healthy workers as control, using SNMC(Japan)AS507 pulmonary function instrument. Results The total dust concentrations of ceramic dust varied from 0.10 to 2.95 mg/m³ at workplaces,14.29% samples were not complicance with the OELs, while the respirable dust concentration of 3.57% samples was higher than the OEL value. The free silica content in the dust varied from 21.3% to 43%. The pulmonary ventilation function indicators, VC,FVC,FEV 1,FEV 1%,FEF 25% and FEF 50% were significantly lower in the exposed group than those in the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Incidences of both pulmonary function damage and small airway damage were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The smokers in the exposed group had a low value of VC,FEV1 and FEV1%, compared with non-smokers(P<0.01).The incidence of pulmonary ventilation function damage among exposed workers was 7.45%(72/967), and among them 98.61%(71/72) cases were mild and 97.22% (70/72) cases showed lung volume restriction. Conclusion Ceramic dust can cause the damage of pulmonary function of workers exposed to dust. The damage was mild at present and most cases had lung volume restriction. The exposure time, the exposure level (represent by the job title) and smoking behavior played important roles in change of pulmonary function.