Pulmonary Function of Exposed and Control Workers in a Nigerian Nonsoapy Detergent Factory

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Abstract
Respiratory symptoms and spirometric pulmonary function data [i.e., 1st forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] for 128 (30%) males who were exposed to alkyl benzene sulfonate in a detergent factory and for 56 (76%) unexposed workers in the same factory were reported. Exposed subjects had been employed for 1 mo.-15 yr, and they generally complained of cough and mucus secretions, nasal catarrh, chest pain and breathlessness. Unexposed workers had been employed for 1 mo.-13 yr and had a significantly lower (P < 0.001) frequency of symptoms, and significantly higher (0.01 > P > 0.001) FEV1.0 and FVC than the exposed workers. The reduction in pulmonary function of exposed subjects from the predicted was significantly higher (0.01 > P > 0.001) than that experienced by the unexposed subjects. There was a significant 8 h workshift depression in lung function. There was radiological evidence of pulmonary fibrosis, but lack of pre-employment chest radiographs rendered this inconclusive. Respiratory symptoms in exposed subjects decreased with duration of employment, which probably indicated the exodus from the work force of those who could not tolerate the nonsoapy detergent.