Respiratory and immunological changes in tea workers

Respiratorna funkcija ispitivana je u 100 radnica zaposlenih u preradi čajeva (gruzijski, kadulja, šipak, indijski i kamilica) i u 84 radnice kontrolne skupine. Prevalencija većine kroničnih respiratornih simptoma bila je značajno viša u radnica pri preradi šipka, kadulje i gruzijskog čaja nego u radnica kontrolne skupine. Tijekom radne smjene utvrđene su statistički značajne srednje akutne redukcije za maksimalni ekspiratorni protok pri 50% i 25 % vitalnog kapaciteta na krivulji maksimalnog ekspiracijskog protoka i volumena (FEF50: 4,1-8,8%; FEF25: 7,8-21,8%) u svih osim u radnica izloženih kamilici. Akutne redukcije FEV1 bile su mnogo manje i uglavnom statistički neznačajne. Imunološki status ispitivan je u 26 radnica u preradi čajeva i u 17 radnica kontrolne skupine. Intradermalni testovi s alergenima čajeva pokazivali su najveći postotak pozitivnih kožnih reakcija na kadulju (45%), gruzijski čaj (40%) i šipak (10%). U kontrolnoj skupini radnica utvrđene su pozitivne kožne reakcije u 23 % na kadulju, 19 % na gruzijski čaj i 11 % na šipak i indijski čaj. Koncentracija IgE u serumu povišena je u 27% radnica u preradi čajeva i u 7% radnica kontrolne skupine.Respiratory function was examined in 100 female workers employed in the production of different types of tea (gruzyan, sage, dog rose, indian and chamomile) and in 84 female control workers. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in workers processing dog rose, sage and gruzyan tea than in the control group. During work shift there were significant mean acute reductions in maximal expiratory flow rates at 50% and 25 % of the vital capacity on maximum expiratory flow-volume curves (FEF50: 4.l-8.8%;FEF25: 7.8-21.8%) except in workers exposed to chamomile. Acute reductions in FEY1 were considerably smaller and not significant. The immunological status was examined in 26 tea workers and in 17 control workers. Skin tests with tea allergens demonstrated the highest percentage of positive reaction to sage (45%), gruzyan tea (40%) and dog rose (10%). Among the control workers, 23% had a positive skin reaction to sage, 19 % to gruzyan tea and 11 % to dog rose and indian tea. Serum levels of total IgE were elevated in 27 % of the tea workers and in 17% of the control subjects