Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Symptoms of Municipal Fire Officers in Busan..
- Author:
Sung Hoon KIM
1
;
Jung Won KIM
;
Jong Eun KIM
;
Byung Chul SON
;
Jeong Ho KIM
;
Chang Hee LEE
;
Sang Hwan JANG
;
Chae Kwan LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Korea. hedoc@dreamwiz.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Firefighter;
Smoking;
Lung function test;
Respiratory symptoms
- MeSH:
Busan*;
Firefighters;
Fires*;
Humans;
Lung;
Male;
Pharyngitis;
Prevalence;
Respiratory Function Tests;
Respiratory System;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Thorax
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2006;18(2):103-111
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between respiratory disorders and fire exposure by investigating and analyzing the lung function and respiratory symptoms of firefighters. METHODS: The health effects of firefighting on respiratory function were investigated in 699 male fire officers in 4 fire departments in Busan by recording respiratory symptoms and measuring lung function. The data were analysed according to fire exposure and smoking habits. RESULTS: Mean spirometric data showed significantly decreased levels in the fire-exposed group (FVC, -0.20 L; FVC%, -4.2%; FEV(1) -0.21 L; FEV(1)%, -5.1%; FEF25%, -0.13 L/SEE p<0.05). After stratification by smoking habits, FVC and FEV(1) showed a significant difference between groups. The prevalence of spirometric abnormality was greater for the fire-exposed group than for the non-exposed group. Significantly higher prevalences of nasal stiffness (16.7% vs. 10.9%), sore throat (17.7% vs.14.2%) and chest tightness (6.5% vs. 2.5%) were recorded in firefighters compared to controls (p<0.05). However, after stratification by smoking habits, the 3 symptoms were showed only marginal differences in the smoking group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that fire-exposed firefighters generally suffer a decline of lung function and a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms. These results suggest that the exposure to routine firefighting activity is associated with adverse health effects to the respiratory system.
