Measuring the effect of exposure to the grinding environment using pulmonary functions

Abstract

This study assesses the influence of the grinding environment using pulmonary functions of the grinding operator among industry at Rajkot in India. Pulmonary function tests were performed on 100 grinding operators and compared with the other 100 subjects having no grinding exposure as a control group. During this study various pulmonary functions which shows the capacity/working of lungs like, Ratio of Forced Expiratory volume in 1 second to Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation (SPO2) are examined. The novel use of pulmonary functions as a proxy of secondary measurement is taken as an indicator of sustainable manufacturing as it enhances the safety of the grinding operator. Significant differences were found for FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and PEFR between grinding operators and control group, which is used to create a benchmark to qualify the manufacturing as sustainable manufacturing. Exposure to the grinding environment had a significant effect on most of the spirometric indices. The study shows 80 grinding operators and 12 subjects of the control group have low pulmonary functions which mean there is a 68% higher chance of reduced lung performance in the grinding operators. This study documents work-related changes in pulmonary functions in the grinding operators and report the drops in these functions without any major external indications on the grinding operators. There was no sign of skin problem, and low SPO2. This method of study is suitable to implement for finding the adverse effect on the operator for another manufacturing process following a similar approach.