Does Moxa Smoke Have Significant Effect on the Acupuncturist's Respiratory System? A Population-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Respiratory Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Acupuncturists are occupationally exposed to moxa smoke (MSE).
• Understanding the respiratory health risks associated with MSE is crucial for occupational safety.
• Previous research on MSE and respiratory health has been limited in quantitative detail.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety of moxa smoke exposure (MSE) for acupuncturists.
• To provide quantitative data for occupational prevention strategies.
• To assess the relationship between MSE and respiratory health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Combined questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey and lung function testing.
• Developed a mathematical regression model to assess MSE's impact on respiratory health.
• Evaluated smoke exposure duration and prevalence of respiratory symptoms/diseases.

Main Results:

• The most common symptoms were expectoration (18.7%) and rhinitis (22.7%).
• No significant difference in most respiratory symptoms or lung function indexes between exposed and non-exposed groups.
• While some statistical differences in specific lung function measures were noted (e.g., MVV in males, VC in females), they did not indicate pulmonary dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Moxa smoke exposure (MSE) does not appear to have a significant adverse effect on the overall respiratory health of acupuncturists.
• The study provides quantitative insights supporting occupational safety measures for acupuncturists.