The Influence of Working in Charcoal Factories on Selected Respiratory Parameters

Workers in charcoal factories are reported to develop respiratory problems. However, to date, no formal studies have been conducted on the effects this profession may have on respiratory health in Palestine. This study aims to determine the effects of working in charcoal factories on selected respiratory parameters. A case-control study consisted of 45 charcoal workers "cases" and 45 non-charcoal workers "controls". The working durations of cases were reported. Forced spirometry was used to measure the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). These values, alongside the FEV1/FVC ratios and prevalence of restrictive lung disease of the two groups were compared. The results show that there is a significant decrease in the FEV1 (p=0.015) and FVC (p=0.017) values in charcoal workers in comparison to non-workers. While the FEV1/FVC ratio is not significantly affected (p=0.088). The prevalence of restrictive lung pattern is 64.4% among charcoal workers, which is significantly higher than the control group (p=0.017). The severity of restricted lung disease increased with the increase in working duration. We conclude that working in charcoal factories resulted in significant negative changes in the spirometrical readings, and increasing prevalence of restrictive lung disease.