Author/Authors :
RAHIMIFARD، HODA نويسنده Department of Occupational Health, Health Faculty, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran , , HEIDARI، HAMIDREZA نويسنده Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom ,Iran , , ABBASINIA، MARZIYEH نويسنده Department of Occupational Health, Health Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Noruzi، Mehdi نويسنده Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran Noruzi, Mehdi , MAHDINIA، MOHSEN نويسنده Department of Occupational Health, Health Faculty, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran , , Arast، Yalda نويسنده Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran Arast, Yalda
Abstract :
Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant with irritant properties. The present case control study was
undertaken among 37 exposed staff with formaldehyde and 19 non exposed (referent) ones to study the
acute and chronic effects of it in two educational hospitals. All subjects were tested for respiratory
function by a portable alpha Vitalograph-UK. In addition using a respiratory questionnaire, data on
demographic information and respiratory symptoms were collected. The results showed that exposed
medical staff had high prevalence rates of regular cough, wheezing and itching and burning sensations of
the nose on acute exposure to formaldehyde. These effects were higher on chronic exposure. On the
other hand, although the respiratory function parameters such as FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), FEV1
(Volume that has been exhaled at the end of the first second of forced expiration) and PEF (The highest
forced expiratory flow measured with a peak flow meter) diminished in some exposed subjects, the
respiratory function in two groups of subjects did not indicate any significant differences (p < 0.05). In
conclusion the respiratory function test cannot be always exact criteria to demonstrate adverse health
effect of formaldehyde exposure.
