Pulmonary function of exposed and control workers in a Nigerian nonsoapy detergent factory

Respiratory symptoms and spirometric pulmonary function data [i.e., first-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] for 128 (30%) males who were exposed to alkyl benzene sulphonate in a detergent factory and for 56 (76%) unexposed workers in the same factory are reported herein. Exposed subjects had been employed for 1 month to 15 yr, and they generally complained of cough and mucus secretions, nasal catarrh, chest pain, and breathlessness. Unexposed workers had been employed for 1 month to 13 yr and had a significantly lower (P less than .001) frequency of symptoms, as well as significantly higher (.01 greater than P greater than .001) FEV1.0 and FVC than the exposed workers. The reduction in pulmonary function of exposed subjects from the predicted was significantly higher (.01 greater than P greater than .001) than that experienced by the unexposed subjects. There was a significant 8-hr workshift depression in lung function. There was radiological evidence of pulmonary fibrosis, but lack of pre-employment chest radiographs renders this inconclusive. Respiratory symptoms in exposed subjects decreased with duration of employment, which probably indicates the exodus from the work force of those who could not tolerate the nonsoapy detergent.