Respiratory function of sawmill workers and their relationship to duration of exposure to wood dust seen in Nigeria

Abstract

John Oluwatosin Omole, Ayodeji Ayodele Fabunmi, Christopher Olusanjo Akosile

Background and Objective: Sawmill workers are exposed to considerable amounts of wood dust which may compromise their respiratory function.Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of wood dust by comparing pulmonary parameters between workers in the sawmill industries and their aged matched controls. In addition, to determine the relationship between the respiratory function of sawmill workers and their exposure time.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in the south western part of Nigeria. One hundred and two non-smoking male workers were recruited from the sawmill industries while the same number made up the control group (non-smoking). The controls were comprised of members of staff and student of the University of Ibadan who had no history of wood dust exposure. All participants had no chest deformities. Selected lung function tests were performed using a spirometer. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests with alpha set at p < 0.05.Results: There was a significant reduction of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) of workers in the sawmill industries when compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Sawmill workers exposed to wood dust exceeding 10 years were found to have a significant decrease in their FEV1 (F = 10.802, p = 0.001). In addition, there was a negative but moderate relationship between FEV1 and exposure time to wood dust (r = −0.489, p = 0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between FVC and exposure time to wood dust (r = −0.17, p = 0.241).Conclusion: Sawmill workers have increased risk of compromised respiratory function. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to wood dust resulted in decreased respiratory func-tion. Workplace education in terms of the risk of wood dust inhalation and provision of protective devices is recommended.