The respiratory functions and radiologic findings of the marble factory workers

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate theprobable effect of exposure to marble dust on respiratorysymptoms, respiratory function tests and chest radiographies.Materials and methods: Totally 110 marble workerswere enrolled as study group. Marble workers were dividedinto 4 groups according to work places: block cuttingline (Group A, n=25), polishing unit (Group B, n=33), tilecutting unit (Group C, n=31), and office workers (n=21).Control group (Group E, n=30) consisted of similar demographicalcharacteristics without dust exposure. Dustconcentrations of all groups working environments weremeasured. The patients administered the questionnaire,and examination findings and respiratory function test resultswere recorded. Chest graphies were obtained.Results: All of factory workers were male and mean agewas 33,4±6,3 years. There was no difference betweengroups in mean age and cigarette consumption. Dustconcentrations were similar in the first three groups, butit was lower in the office. In first three groups, cough andsputum frequencies were more than office group. Regardingthe respiratory function test results, no significantdifference was detected between the FEV1, FVC andFEV1/FVC values. But lower values in first three groupsthan control group according to FEV1, FEV1/FVC andFEF25-75 were detected. Although statistically not different,more abnormal chest radiographic findings werefound in first three groups. Workers, who had a historyof marble dust exposure more than ten years, had morechest radiographic abnormalities.Conclusion: Marble dust exposure was related to respiratorysymptoms and chest radiographic findings in relationto the intensity and duration of exposure in marblefactory workers. J Clin Exp Invest 2012; 3(2): 250-254