摘要：To study the occupational exposure effects of some irritative pollutants (IP) upon the pulmonary function, in the cellulose fibres industry. Methods: Cross-sectional occupational study on 117 workers exposed to IP mixtures versus matched controls. IP assessments have been done in the workplaces air. Health status investigations comprised clinical examinations and laboratory tests, as well as computerised assessment of the pulmonary capacities and flows (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/VC, FEF0.2-1.2, FEF25-75%, PEF, MEF50%, MEF25%, MEF75%). Results: The IP measurements in the workplaces air showed under TLV values. Health status assessment revealed significant increase of obstructive dysfunction associated with IP occupational exposure (Yate’s c 2 =57.24 p :0.000000 , OR=8.96, 95%CI: 4.98-16.11). In the exposed, 37% of subjects had FEV1 and FEV1/VC in normal limits, the other parameters indicating distal obstructive syndrome (DOS), the majority of cases having more severe obstructions: 41% slight obstructions (SO) and 4.3% moderate obstructions (MO). In the controls 16.4% subjects had DOS, 5.7% SO and 0% MO. The difference between these percentages was also statistically significant (p :0.0000 -0.029). Further analysis allowed a more precise diagnosis of the obstruction degree in its early stage, and also showed some useful correlations with the levels of IP. Conclusions: The exposure to irritative pollutants, in occupational settings, could be involved in the impairment of pulmonary function, largely causing obstructive syndromes in the exposed people. The systematic use of pulmonary function testing allows precocious diagnosis and, consequently, adequate prophylactic measures.
