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Effects of Henna milling on spirometry parameters, fractional exhaled nitric oxide and respiratory symptoms: A cross-sectional study

Authors: Masoud Rahimian, Mohammad Samet, Mahdi HosseiniB 

Ref: Int J OHSFE-Allied Sci./Vol. 9/Issue 1/Jan-Dec,2017/002.

Abstract:

Respiratory diseases as a consequence of occupational hazardous exposure are common in many workers. Henna milling is grinding of red henna (Lawsonia Intermis) plant roots to produce a colorizing powder used mainly for cosmetic purposes. This processing takes place only in limited parts of the world in small workshops. This is probably the main reason for absence of any report about respiratory diseases related to this industry in the literature. Because Yazd is one of the main producers and exporters of henna in the world, we conducted the present study to turn attentions toward such industry. Another driving force for this study was rarity of respiratory complaints among workers of this industry in 25 years of experiences of one of the authors (M.R). Thus at present study we measured respiratory symptoms, spirometric parameters as well as Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO) among henna workers. This was a cross- sectional study of 45 workers of all eleven small traditional henna mills in Yazd, central Iran. Researchers went to all of these workshops and gathered study data from interviews, spirometry and FENO measurements in place. Spirometry and FENO measured during a work shift by a trained technician. Interview results showed that acute work-related symptoms were not so common. Furthermore, pulmonary function test results showed that FEV1/FVC, FEV1, FVC and FENO were most of the times at their normal predicted limits. At the next stage, correlations measured between any pulmonary function abnormality and study predictors (e.g. age, smoking, exposure levels and duration) which showed no significant correlations. Paradoxically, adjustment for smoking level revealed no additional effect on spirometric values or FENO. Based on present study results, no significant negative effect of henna milling on respiratory symptoms, spirometric values and FENO could be shown despite heavy dust exposures.

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