Iran Occupational Health

  Background and aims

  Respiratory diseases are one of the more Prevalence occupational diseases in colour Production industries. Because chemical hazard that are present in such  industries improving screening methods is essential. There is some kind of respiratory function  evaluation methods it seems that serial peak flowmetry has found a new place.

  MethodS

  In this cross sectional study we did serial peak flowmetry in 30 workers of a colour  production factory in 14days.Crude and means data were collected from each day and then were compared to another days data. Evaluation of two weeks data helped us to omit confounding

  variables.So coherency of two weeks data were confirmed validity of study.

  Results

  Mean degree of peak flowse due to last workday in propotion of first work day were significantly different (p<0.001). This manner was repeated in data of second week(p<0.001) &  (r=0.908). peak flow daily changes pattern showed decrease in end of the shift more than beginning  of day. 17 workers who had significant changes did not how any pathologic signs in routine annual  spirometry. Most changes were due to first workday in opposite to last workday (35±16.5 in  contrast 33.6 ±11.8)

  Conclusion

  According to results of this study it seems that serial peak flowmetry test is more  sensitive in screening and evaluation workers respiratory function in proportion of routine annual  spirometry.