Respiratory Symptoms, Pulmonary Function and The Role of Interlukin-1Β in The Inflammatory Reaction among Workers at a Cement Factory in Cairo, Egypt

Background: Cement workers are exposed to various workplace factors that may affect their
health. These health effects depend on the duration, level of exposure and individual
sensitivity. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of exposure to cement
dust on lung function of workers in a national cement production factory at North Cairo and
to identify the possible association between such findings and interlukin-1β in addition to
personal and work-related factors. Method: It included 96 workers from different
departments of cement factory (exposed group) and 100 workers group from an Egyptian
public institution (control group). Data collected included personal data, occupational and
medical history, clinical chest examination and body mass index. Pulmonary function tests
were performed to suspected 60 subjects from the exposed group and all subjects from the
control group. Interleukin-1β, liver function tests and kidney function tests were measured in
67 exposed workers who agree to provide a blood sample. Results showed that cement
workers and controls were matched for age, gender and smoking status. Chronic cough and
expectoration were significantly higher among the exposed group. Moreover, the percentage
of cement workers with reduced FEV1, FVC was significantly higher than control group. The
mean work duration of the exposed group was 24 years, small percentage of workers reported
wearing personal protective devices as none reported they were informed about possible
hazardous exposures before starting work. Most of the participants had normal interleukin
levels and normal liver and kidney function tests. However, 8.8% of cement workers have
elevated serum creatinine, 23.5% have elevated blood urea nitrogen, 13.2% have elevated
serum ALT and 19.1% have elevated serum AST. The current study showed a significant
higher proportion of cement workers with reduced FEV1/FVC among those working for ≥ 20
years duration compared to workers with those working for < 20 years duration.