[Respiratory function in vineyard and orchard workers]

The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases and ventilatory capacity were studied in 174 vineyard and orchard workers. In addition, 115 nonexposed workers were studied as a control group. In vineyard and orchard workers, there was significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, dyspnea and chest tightness in comparison to the control group. Smokers, vineyard and orchard workers employed for more than 10 years showed significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis and chest tightness than smokers with shorter employment. In vineyard and orchard workers employed for more than 10 years there was higher prevalence of acute symptoms during work shift than in those with shorter employment, although the differences were statistically significant only for cough (p < 0.05). Most of the measured ventilatory capacity tests in vineyard and orchard workers were lower than predicted in smokers and nonsmokers. Values lower than 70% of predicted were found in 5.2% workers for FVC, in 6.3% for FEV1, in 27.6% for FEF50 and in 40.2% for FEF25. These data indicate that workers employed in vineyards and orchards may develop acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases along with lung function changes which are partly related to environmental factors and partly to smoking habit.