International Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Abstract
Background: Bio aerosol pollution of workplace environment mainly affects the airways and mucous membrane many times culminating in respiratory distress and COPD. This causes increased morbidity and loss of work hours for the affected individuals.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung functions in individuals exposed to mixed bio aerosols in a vegetable market and to test the association of age of an individual with various lung function tests.

Materials and Methods: Bio aerosol characteristics of air in the market were analysed by Reusable Aluminium Two Stage Viable Anderson Cascade Impactor. Spirometry with American Thoracic Society (ATS) standards was done in non-smoker 640 individuals; 210 individuals exposed to dust and 430 individuals living around the same area but not exposed to dust. According to age 2 groups were made. Group A (20-30years) having 110 exposed and 220 unexposed individuals .Group B (31-40years) having 100 exposed and 210 unexposed individuals. Spirometry results were compared between 2 groups using SPSS software version 16.0.2 for student’s t test and F test to test the statistical significance at p < 0.05 and confidence interval of 95%.

Results: The bio aerosol analysis revealed high level of polluting microbial components. In exposed individuals compared to unexposed individuals prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly high (p<0.05) and spirometry demonstrated significant reduction in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), Forced Expiratory Flow at 25% - 75% Vital Capacity (25% -75%) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR).There was significant positive correlation between age and decrease in all the recorded spirometry parameters (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Occupational exposure to mixed organic dust is associated with significantly higher respiratory symptoms and decreased spirometric values necessitating medical attention. So there is need of preventive measures and health education in this population.