[Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary ventilatory function in greenhouse workers]

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in a group of 135 women employed in greenhouses. In addition, a control group of 51 unexposed women were studied. Greenhouse workers had significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, dyspnea, chest tightness and rhinitis (p < 0.01) than the controls. Smokers had significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough (p < 0.01) and rhinitis (p < 0.05) than nonsmokers. There was a high prevalence of acute symptoms during work shift. In greenhouse workers there was a statistically significant decrease of measured ventilatory capacity tests (except FVC) as compared to the predicted normal values, especially for FEF25. Smokers and nonsmokers had similar changes of ventilatory capacity as percentage of the predicted normals. Greenhouse workers exposed for more than 10 years had considerably lower FEF50 and FEF25 as percentage of the predicted values than those exposed for less than 10 years. Our data indicate that longer exposure in greenhouses may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory impairment.