Assessment of airway impairment due to volatile organic compounds in histology, pathology, and anatomy laboratory workers using impulse oscillometry

Introduction: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are widely used in histology, pathology, and anatomy laboratories, potentially contributing to respiratory diseases among healthcare workers. It is known that Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) can provide early findings in some airway diseases. This study evaluated the feasibility of IOS for early diagnosis and occupational screenings compared to spirometry. Methods: Forty-one healthcare workers from histology, pathology and anatomy laboratories underwent IOS and spirometry on the first and last workdays of the week. Environmental VOC and formaldehyde exposure were assessed using 8-hour (TWA) and 15-minute (STEL) measurements across five points at pathology, four points at anatomy, and two points at histology laboratories. Pulmonary function tests and exposure levels were analyzed across groups. Results: Participants were 63% female, with 61% working in pathology, 22% in anatomy, and 17% in histology. Formaldehyde exceeded limits in pathology (0.75–2.5 ppm TWA), while VOC levels remained within normal ranges. Spirometry revealed significant declines in FEV1, PEF, and FEF25-75 in pathology workers (p<0.05), but not in other groups. IOS detected a change in R5-20% (p=0.036), though differences between groups were not significant. FEV1/FVC, FEV3/FVC, and FEV3/FEV6 negatively correlated with age and work duration, while X5 showed a positive correlation, and FEF25-75 correlated with work duration. Conclusion: IOS shows potential for early airway assessment in VOC-exposed workers, but further large-scale, multicenter studies are needed to validate its role in occupational health screenings. Keywords: Volatile Organic Compounds, Formaldehyde, Impulse Oscillometry