[Dynamic observation of pulmonary ventilation function in workers contacting chromate].

Objective: To explore changes of pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed workers.
Methods: Ninety-five chromate exposed workers were used as exposure group, and forty-two workers without chromate exposure as control group. Pulmonary ventilation function was performed two times in the winter of 2010 and 2011 respectively in one chromate manufactured factory in Henan Province.
Results: In 2010, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group compared with the control group, forced vital capacity [FVC, (75.38±15.23) L vs. (83.99±26.52)L], forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1,(82.13±16.51)L vs.(91.24±30.03)L], FEV1/FVC(112.10±13.23 vs. 116.18±11.32), peak expiratory flow [PEF,(74.31±28.09) L/s vs.(78.13±28.34)L/s], maximal expiratory flow [MEF,(101.23±46.37) L/s vs. (110.02±41.40)L/s], maximum ventilation volume [MVV,(90.82± 16.89)L/min vs. (99.95±22.61)L/min]were significantly decreased(P<0.05). In 2011, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group compared with the control group, FVC[(72.34±14.18)L vs.(81.01±20.79)L], FEV1[(76.04±16.20)L vs.(86.71±24.53)L], FEV1/FVC(109.10±16.18 vs.114.08±10.79), PEF[(71.35±24.87 )L/s vs.(75.36±20.67)L/s], MEF[(96.51±30.17)L/s vs.(107.11±34.81)L/s], MVV[(84.85±21.22)L/min vs. (96.77±22.63)L/min] were also significantly decreased(P<0.05). 2011 compared with 2010, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group FEV1[(76.04±16.20)L vs.( 82.13±16.51)L], MEF[(96.51±30.17)L/s vs. (101.23±46.37)L/s], MVV[(84.85±21.22)L/min vs. (90.82±16.89)L/min] were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Comparing the classification and category of pulmonary dysfunction based on FVC, FEV1, FVC/ FEV1, no difference was found for classification between the two groups and the category of pulmonary dysfunction almost belongs to limit type, which did not change with exposed time.
Conclusion: Chronic chromate exposure can cause significant effects on pulmonary function of the workers, and the types of work in production can affect the results.