Peak expiratory flow rate in automobile spray painters living in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Fifty (50) subjects who are spray painters or spray painting  apprentices were used for this experiment. The subjects used have all been exposed to fumes of paint for periods which varied between two (2) to twenty-eight (28) years. All the subjects used were males since hardly any females inBenin Cityare in the profession. The respiratory assessments were done by the use of Peak flow meter. Respiratory rates of subjects were also measured. Fifty (50) subjects who are not exposed to paint fumes served as control.

      During the preliminary studies, it was observed that the spray painters were quite aware of the negative effects of spray paint fumes on their respiratory tract. All the spray painters used protective devices like the use of nose masks, use of foam or piece of cloth to cover nose. We then went ahead to access the peak flow in L/ min in the spray painters and their apprentices.

     Results show that there was a significant reduction (p< 0.05) in the mean peak flow rate of the spray painters (438L/minute) when compared with mean peak flow rate of non-spray painters (468.57L/minute), despite the protective devices used by the spray painters. Thus the spray fumes affects the peak expiratory flow rate.