Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most frequent disorder of respiratory tract. Smoking cigarettes and additionally occupational exposure to certain substances are the risk factors of this disease. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of COPD among works of the pesticides producing factory in Jaworzno, Poland.
Material and methods: The medical history was obtained from 181 workers and spirometry was done in 114 of them.
Results: The frequency of COPD (grades 0-2 according to the GOLD) was significantly increased in workers exposed to pesticides compared to not exposed group (19.3 vs. 3%; p = 0.002). The length of exposure to pesticides was significantly longer in COPD compared to healthy group (p = 0.003). Additionally, there was a negative correlation between the values of FEV1/FVC index and respectively length of exposure to pesticides (r = -0.3; p = 0.0003) and the number of packyears of cigarettes smoked (r = -0.39; p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: We concluded that the frequency of COPD is increased in workers exposed to pesticides at work compared to subjects not exposed. The main risk factors for development of COPD among these patients were the length of exposure to pesticides and to lesser degree number of smoked cigarettes.