Pulmonary Function Impairment in Female Workers Exposed to Environments with Varied Ambient Air Pollution in the Central Business Area of Lusaka-Zambia
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aims: To determine the lung function of cleaners exposed to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometer (PM 2.5 ) in the streets and offices in Lusaka, Zambia.Study Design: This was a cross sectional study between two groups.Place and Duration of Study: Lusaka city, central business area, between June and August 2014.Methodology: The study included women between 18-50 years of age who had been working as street or office cleaners for 6 months or more.Males and individuals in both groups who used to smoke or were currently smokers, as well as those with a history of respiratory related illnesses or had cardiopulmonary conditions were excluded from the study.The cleaners were interviewed to get information on socio-demographic characteristics and other information using a structured interview schedule.The participants' lung volumes, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ), Original Research Articleforced vital capacity (FVC) and their ratio (FEV 1 /FVC) were measured using a MRI spirobank G spirometer.On the day of the interview, PM 2.5 in their work environment was sampled using a personal aerosol monitor (SIDEPAK AM510).Results: Out of the 90 participants, 45 were street sweepers and 45 were office cleaners.More street sweepers had impaired lung function (FEV1/FVC) 15(75%) than office cleaners 5(25%) p=0.01.FEV 1 was also significantly different among street sweepers 12(70.6%)and office cleaners 5(29.4%)p=0.05.PM 2.5 measurements revealed significantly high levels of exposure among street sweepers (p=0.001).Participants with impaired lung function (p=.005) and those with reduced FEV 1 percent predicted were exposed to significantly high concentrations of PM 2.5 (p=0.012) .Conclusion: Exposure to high PM 2.5 concentration is associated with pulmonary function impairment and reduced FEV 1 % predicted among cleaners.
Authors: Lumba Siachingili, Fastone Goma
Institutions: Cavendish University Zambia, University of Zambia
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2914995125