National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran TANAFFOS (Respiration) 1735-0344 16 1 2017 01 01 Pulmonary Functions and Health-Related Quality of Life among Silica-Exposed Workers 60 67 240202 EN Hamzeh Mohammadi Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Somayeh Farhang Dehghan Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Farideh Golbabaei Department of Occupational Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,Iran. Saman Roshani Department of Occupational Health, Student Research Committee, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Reza Pakzad Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Parvin Foroughi Department of Occupational Health, Student Research Committee, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Roohalah Hajizadeh Occupational Health Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. Journal Article 2020 12 25 Background: This study aimed to investigate the pulmonary functions of silicaexposed workers and their health-related quality of life in an insulator<br /> manufacturing industry.<br /> Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants selected<br /> from the manufacturing unit (n = 127) constituted the exposed group and those<br /> from the administrative department (n = 30) constituted the unexposed group.<br /> All subjects were evaluated using personal air sampling of crystalline silica,<br /> pulmonary function tests, and a quality of life questionnaire (36-item short form<br /> health survey [SF-36]).<br /> Results: The mean (SD) concentrations of crystalline silica were 0.507 (0.23)<br /> mg/m3 and 0.0116 (0.008) mg/m3 for the exposed and unexposed groups,<br /> respectively. All the pulmonary function indices and all the physical and<br /> mental health domains of the workers were significantly lower than those of the<br /> administrative clerks (p < 0.05). The silica concentration did not significantly<br /> correlate with the quality of life components and all the pulmonary function<br /> indices (p > 0.05), except for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory<br /> volume in one second (FEV1) (p < 0.05).<br /> Conclusion: In conclusion, the workers exposed to higher levels of crystalline<br /> silica had lower values of pulmonary function indices and lower health-related<br /> quality of life; however, further follow-up studies are needed to confirm these<br /> findings. https://www.tanaffosjournal.ir/article_240202_0713a96552cdf848c996b96cd5cf4987.pdf