Document Detail


Occupational exposures and obstructive lung disease: a case-control study in hairdressers.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20587102     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Hairdressers are exposed to various irritating chemicals during work. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed as a case-control study to evaluate the risk of developing obstructive lung disease in relation to occupational exposures in hairdressers. METHODS: We interviewed a cohort of 50 female hairdressers and 50 matched controls recruited from a random sample of the general population, using a validated questionnaire for occupational respiratory disease, to compare the prevalence of work-initiated and work-related respiratory symptoms in both groups. We also performed pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in all participants. RESULTS: Almost half of the hairdressers reported work-initiated respiratory symptoms. Cough (33%) and breathlessness (29%) were the most common self-reported symptoms after chemical exposures. All respiratory symptoms (cough, breathless, wheezing, and phlegm) were significantly higher in the hairdressers than in the control group (P < .001). The hairdressers reported that bleaching powder and hair spray were the most irritant chemicals that provoke their respiratory symptoms. The impaired PFT values (forced vital capacity, FEV(1), maximum mid-expiratory flow, peak expiratory flow) in the hairdressers, compared to the matched controls, were in line with the questionnaire data. CONCLUSIONS: Hairdressing work is associated with a high frequency of work-initiated respiratory symptoms and, to a lesser extent, with allergic symptoms, particularly after exposure to bleaching powder and hair spray. PFT values were significantly lower among the hairdressers, which might be a predictor for developing obstructive lung disease.
Authors:
Nastran Hashemi; Mohammad Hossein Boskabady; Ashraf Nazari
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Respiratory care     Volume:  55     ISSN:  0020-1324     ISO Abbreviation:  Respir Care     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-30     Completed Date:  2010-08-13     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7510357     Medline TA:  Respir Care     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  895-900     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, 177948564.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Barbering*
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Lung Diseases, Obstructive / etiology*
Occupational Diseases / etiology*
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Questionnaires
Respiratory Function Tests
Risk Factors
Statistics, Nonparametric

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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