Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers

Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers Publisher Pubmed

Heibati B^{1, 2} ; Jaakkola MS^{1, 2} ; Lajunen TK^{1, 2} ; Ducatman A³ ; Zafari Z⁴ ; Yekkalam M⁴ ; Karimi A⁵ ; Jaakkola JJK^{1, 2, 6}

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1. Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
2. Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
3. Occupational and Environmental Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
4. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Fars, Iran
5. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6. Atmospheric Composition Research Unit, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine Published:2021

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of occupational exposures among fruit and vegetable market workers on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and on the level of lung function parameters. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 140 men working as fruit and vegetable market workers (response rate 100%) and a reference group of 77 male office workers as the reference group (response rate 55%) from Shiraz, Iran. The outcomes of interest included occurrence of respiratory symptoms assessed by a standard respiratory questionnaire and lung function assessed by spirometry. Results In Poisson regression analyses, the exposed group showed increased prevalence ratio (PR) of wheezing (adjusted PR 5.32, 95% CI 1.40 to 20.26), after controlling for confounding. Cough (PR 3.30, 95% CI 1.16 to 9.40) and wheezing (PR 9.40, 95% CI 2.28 to 38.64) showed increased PRs among vegetable distributors. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) and FEV 1 /forced vital capacity were significantly decreased among exposed workers after controlling for confounders. The absolute value of FEV 1 level was reduced significantly among fruit and vegetable carters (-0.99, 95% CI-1.68 to-0.32) and vegetable (-0.51, 95% CI-0.93 to-0.10) and fruit (-0.51, 95% CI-0.86 to-0.15) distributors in comparison with the reference group in the adjusted full model. Conclusions This study provides evidence that fruit and vegetable market workers are at an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function. Workplace conditions and safety training clearly need improvement, and there is a likely role for proper use of personal protective equipment. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Style	Citing Format
MLA	Heibati B, et al.. "Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers." Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 78, no. 4, 2021, pp. 262-268.
APA	Heibati B, Jaakkola MS, Lajunen TK, Ducatman A, Zafari Z, Yekkalam M, Karimi A, Jaakkola JJK (2021). Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 78(4), 262-268.
Chicago	Heibati B, Jaakkola MS, Lajunen TK, Ducatman A, Zafari Z, Yekkalam M, Karimi A, Jaakkola JJK. "Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers." Occupational and Environmental Medicine 78, no. 4 (2021): 262-268.
Harvard	Heibati B et al. (2021) 'Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers', Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 78(4), pp. 262-268.
Vancouver	Heibati B, Jaakkola MS, Lajunen TK, Ducatman A, Zafari Z, Yekkalam M, et al.. Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2021;78(4):262-268.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Heibati B and Jaakkola MS and Lajunen TK and Ducatman A and Zafari Z and Yekkalam M and Karimi A and Jaakkola JJK}, title = {Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers}, journal = {Occupational and Environmental Medicine}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {262-268}, year = {2021} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Heibati B AU - Jaakkola MS AU - Lajunen TK AU - Ducatman A AU - Zafari Z AU - Yekkalam M AU - Karimi A AU - Jaakkola JJK TI - Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Deficits Among Fruit and Vegetable Market Workers JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine VL - 78 IS - 4 SP - 262 EP - 268 PY - 2021 ER -

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