Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among workers in industries of south Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms from occupational lung hazards among workers in industries of south Tehran, IRAN.

METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study in which by multistage random sampling items on demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, occupational history and respiratory symptoms were collected of workers.

RESULTS: The mean age of the workers was 38.5 (SD = 10.2) yr: age ranged from 19 to 70 yr. Of 880 workers under study, 252 (28.7%) were smoking. Also, it has been observed that workers exposed in the workplace with occupational chemical exposures such as dust, gas and fume pollutants. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was cough (20.7%), phlegm (41.6%), dyspnea (41.7%), feel tightness (27.4%) and nose irritation (23.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposures among workers in industries of south Tehran may cause respiratory symptoms and respiratory disorders, engineering controls and industrial hygiene is recommended.