Effect of exposure to cleaning agents on pulmonary function tests in hospital cleaning workers in Jaipur

Vipin Kumar Sharma, Usha Singhal, Anshul Sharma and Vimlesh Kumar Sharma

Cleaning products are widely used both at work and in the home. These products have become an indispensable part of modern life, as they are used on daily basis in nearly all workplaces and homes Occupational exposure to cleaning workers leads to development of various pulmonary disorders, work related asthma being most the important of them. The aim of present study was to evaluate lung functions among Hospital cleaning workers and to compare with the control group. Thirty young Hospital cleaning workers and thirty controls that were similar in all respects to the study group were chosen. PFT were carried out on Hospital cleaning workers, and controls by using computerized Spirometry ‘Spiroexcel’. The data obtained was analyzed using Student‘t’ test.The study showed that PFT parameter s FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75% and FEV1/FVC were all significantly less in Hospitalcleaning workers. So it is concluded in the study that cleaning products produces changes in the lung functions and decreasing lung function parameters of Hospital cleaning workers.