Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function tests in hazelnut processing factory workers

Introduction: Exposure to plant-derived materials can cause development of various diseases including asthma, asthma-like syndrome and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The aim of this study was to investigate respiratory health effects of Hazelnut in Hazelnut Processing Factory Workers by respiratory questionnaire and by measuring respiratory functions and the particulate mattersMethods: 150 workers from different departments in a hazelnut factory in Düzce as study group and 70 workers from hospital as control group were included.Age, sex, place, height, weight, smoking habit, working place and period, pre-shift asthma-allergy history, other chest disease history, respiratory symptoms (cough, dyspnea , sputum, shortness of breath, chest tightness, breathlessness) and work-related, allergic symptoms (conjunctivitis, rhinitis etc) and occupational relation was assessed with questionnaire. Pulmonary functions tests were done during pre-shift and post-shift period. Dust particles were measured in working area and outdoorFindings: Breathlessness (%6) was significantly higher in hazelnut workers (p=0.029). Both of the pre-shift and post-shift spirometric values FVC, FEV1, FEV1/ FVC and FEF 25-75 were significantly lower than control group. Nine hazelnut workers have shown a decrease more than 10% in post shift FEV1 according to control groupsConclusion: The various industries (food, cotton) have had respiratory hazards. It seems that the key control to protect the health of hazelnut processing factory workers is to control dust level in that particular areaKeywords: hazelnut workers, pulmonary function tests, respiratory symptoms, dust concentration