Prevelance of respiratory disorders in workers at two production facilities for readymade concrete in Morocco

SETTING: Employees at factories for ready-made concrete are exposed to the dust emanating from the products (such as sand, gravel and cement); however , there have been few studies on the subject. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted in a male population : 120 employees working in cement production and 120 non-exposed civil serv ants working at the Casa-Anfa prefecture. Each employee underwent interview by standardised questionnaire, spirometry test and standard chest radiogra phy. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the results revealed an increase in the pr evalence of exposed symptomatic subjects compared to non-exposed subjects ( 57.5% vs. 24.2%) and increased prevalence of all of the symptoms: cough (15 .8% vs. 15%), dyspnea (21.6% vs. 5%), chronic bronchitis (11.7% vs. 6.7%), asthma (14.2% vs. 7.5%), rhinitis (40% vs. 19.2%), conjunctivitis (48.3% vs . 10%) and dermatitis (22.5% vs. 6.7%). This increase is only statistically significant for dyspnea, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis. Changes in lung function parametres were much more frequent among the workers at th e two factories than among the nonexposed workers (40.8% vs. 11.7%). Tobacc o also seemed to have an effect on respiratory deficit. Analysis of the che st radiographs of the exposed subjects, using the ILO international classif ication, revealed 19 (15.8%) abnormal films. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions in cement factories must be improved rapidl y (particularly collective technical prevention) and a medical service shou ld be set up for regular management and follow-up of the workers.