Factors Related to Pulmonary Function Test Results of Pulp Industrial Workers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between airborne chemical concentration measurements and pulmonary function tests, and to determine the factors related to abnormal lung performance of workers in the pulp industry. Data were collected from 205 subjects using questionnaires and secondary data of airborne chemical concentrations and lung function tests in 2019. The results showed that lung function of workers had restrictive defects at the severity level of mild (22.44%) and moderate level (0.98%). There was no statistically significant correlation between the concentration of airborne chemicals and lung function defects. The results of univariate analysis for factors correlated to pulmonary malfunction were body mass index (BMI) and workers in the sections of paper production. From multivariate analysis, it found that work sections correlated with pulmonary malfunction, workers in the sections of paper production, production support and power production had 2.17 times higher risk on pulmonary malfunction than of those workers in the maintenance and pulp production section (ORadj = 2.17, 95%CI =1.10-4.30). This study found that the working section group of workers and the personal factor significantly associated with the lung malfunction. Therefore, workers are encouraged to perform health surveillance and to be aware of self-protection on exposure to chemicals while working under condition of chemicals lower than 10% of occupational exposure limit (OEL).