International Journal of
Medicine and Medical Sciences

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Med. Med. Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9723
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJMMS
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 535

Full Length Research Paper

Occupational xylene exposure and respiratory impairment of paint manufacturing workers

Zailina, H.
  • Zailina, H.
  • Department of Environmental and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Mohd Hafiz Syazwan, T.
  • Mohd Hafiz Syazwan, T.
  • Department of Environmental and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Naing, L.
  • Naing, L.
  • Institute of Medicine, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam.
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Jamal, H. H.
  • Jamal, H. H.
  • International Institute for Global Health, United Nations University, UKM Medical Center, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Rusli, N.
  • Rusli, N.
  • Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine, MONASH University, JKR 1235, Bukit Azah, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
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  •  Accepted: 26 March 2013
  •  Published: 30 May 2013

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted among paint workers to determine the association between xylene exposures with respiratory health. Sixty-four exposed workers working with xylene and 47 unexposed administrative workers were selected. Air xylene (AX) were analyzed using the Gas Chromatography while urinary methyl hippuric acid (MHA) were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Lung functions were measured using Chestgraph HI-701 spirometer. The AX for the exposed was significantly higher than the unexposed workers (p<0.001). The urinary MHA of the exposed was higher than the unexposed workers (p<0.001). Among the exposed, more respiratory symptoms, higher lung functions abnormality and significantly lower FEV1% predicted and FVC% predicted were found. Findings showed significant correlations between AX and urinary MHA. AX significantly influenced the lung functions. Smoking years and education influenced the respiratory symptoms. Those exposed have early signs of lung impairment and respiratory symptoms. Smokers faced the risk of developing chronic irreversible respiratory diseases.

 

Key words: Solvent, xylene, methyl hippuric acid, lung functions, paint manufacturing industries.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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