Citation

Neghab M, Amiri F, Moayedi R, Hosseini SY. Safety Promot. Inj. Prev. (Tehran) 2014; 2(2): 140-147.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Shahid Beheshti Medical University)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Background and aim : Chlorine is an irritant gas that has many applications including in chemical and paper industries. Although this substance is an upper and lower respiratory tract irritant, acute and chronic respiratory effects of occupational exposure to this substance have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the respiratory effects of occupational exposure to chlorine gas in a group of workers in the petrochemical industry. 

Materials and Methods : This was a cross sectional study in which a group of 54 workers with cur-rent exposure to chlorine gas (exposed subjects) and 38 healthy male office workers without history of exposure to chlorine gas (referent subjects) were investigated. Standard respiratory questionnaires were administrated to them. Additionally, the parameters of pulmonary function were measured both prior to shift and at the end of shift.

RESULTS: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the exposed group was significantly higher than that of referent subjects (P<0.05). Pulmonary function tests (before shift) showed that chlorine gas causes a significant reduction in the average of some pulmonary parameters. Spirometry (after shift) also showed that the average levels of all parameters decreased at the end of the work shift compared to the corresponding values of before exposure, although these changes were not significant.

CONCLUSION : Exposure to chlorine gas is associated with irreversible chronic changes in the parameters of lung function and prevalence of respiratory symptoms.

Language: fa