Assessment of pulmonary function test in brick factory workers

BACKGROUND: Industrial workers are exposed to dust and pollutants and thus they get occupational disorders when exposed for a long duration. Occupational diseases mainly affect the respiratory system more than other systems. Some of the respiratory occupation disorders are asbestosis, silicosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, work-related asthma, and so on, as the duration of exposure of pollutants increases the pulmonary function decreases. METHOD: A total of 100 subjects working in the Brick factories near Wardha district, Maharashtra were examined using a portable spirometer. Their pulmonary function test was assessed three times and the best out of three values was taken. A pretested questionnaire was filled out by the workers which consisted of their sociodemographic details. Consent was obtained from all the subjects for this in their native language. Similarly, a pretested questionnaire was filled by 50 subjects among the normal population, that is, those not working in brick factories, and consent was obtained from all. And then, their pulmonary function test was carried out using a portable spirometer and the best out of the three values was taken. Statistical analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics using the software. RESULTS: As analyzed by the pulmonary function test data values collected among the brick factory workers and the control group, there was a significant decrease seen in the values of the pulmonary function test of brick factory workers. And as analyzed by the pulmonary function test values of smokers and non-smokers among the brick factory workers, it was seen that there was a significant P value of 0.0001, thus a decrease in pulmonary function test among smokers. CONCLUSION: In this study, we evaluate the respiratory function test among the brick factory workers and the control group and make the workers aware of the damage their habits have on their lung capacity and function based on the evaluation of the predicted and the actual value and thus helps them lead a better life. In this study, we also compare the values of pulmonary function tests among the brick factory workers and control groups.