The Effect of Chronic Cement Dust Exposure on Lung Function of Cement Factory Workers in Sokoto, Nigeria

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of cement dust exposure on lung function in Nigerians because of paucity of such data. Lung function tests were carried out on 56 cement factory workers with mean years of exposure to cement dust of 10.2±5.6 years and on 96 non exposed subjects. The vital capacity (3.7 ± 0.5; versus 4.1 ± 0.5L; P<0.001) and forced expiratory volume in one second percent (FEV1%; 78.4 ± 13.8; versus 89.0 ± 6.9; P<0.005) were significantly lower in cement factory workers than in control subjects. However, forced vital capacity (3.9 ± 0.1 versus 4.0 ± 0.1L) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR; 497.0 ± 14.0 versus 527 ± 15.0 L/min) showed no significant difference. These results suggest that chronic cement dust exposure impairs lung function. Since protective gears were available, these findings suggest that either compliance to their use was poor or they were ineffective. It is recommended that the cement factory management embark on health education, acquire effective protective gadgets and enforce their usage. Also there should be containment of dust emission by use of dust filters.