Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy-An International Journal

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Effect of Chalk Dust Exposure on PEFR and CAT in School Teachers


Affiliations
1 Cardio Vascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiotherapy and Physical Diagnosis, School of Physiotherapy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
2 Department of Neuro Physiotherapy, School of Physiotherapy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3 D.Y. Patil University, School of Physiotherapy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra,, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


In teachers, occupational exposure to chalk dust is very common. Classrooms contain of fine particulate matter that source from chalk dust.

To further evaluate and study the symptoms of respiratory illness in school teachers, the present study was conducted in order to evaluate individual’s degree of obstruction using the PEFR, and its impact on their overall health, using COPD assessment test.

This comparative study was conducted in 40 School teachers and 40 normal healthy individuals. The data for this study was collected using mini Bell’s PEFR device and the COPD Assessment test (CAT). An analysis of the data showed that the mean CAT score of group A (teachers) was significantly higher (p=0.001) than group B (normal individuals). The mean PEFR for group B was higher than group A, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Hence, the study concluded that respiratory symptoms significantly impacted the health of school teachers. They also showed signs of airway obstruction as compared to normal individuals.


Keywords

Chalk Dust Exposure,PEFR, CAT, Teachers.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE (UK. Respiratory tract infections-antibiotic prescribing: prescribing of antibiotics for self-limiting respiratory tract infections in adults and children in primary care.

  • Baron S. Epidemiology--Medical Microbiology. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996.

  • Bullimore SP. Upper respiratory tract infection: predisposing factors and duration of symptoms in patients over 12 years of age. JR Coll Gen Pract. 1987 Mar 1;37(296):107-8.

  • Smith KR, Samet JM, Romieu I, Bruce N. Indoor air pollution in developing countries and acute lower respiratory infections in children. Thorax. 2000 Jun 1;55(6):518-32.

  • Suguna E, Kumar SG, Roy G. Prevalence and risk factors of acute respiratory infection among school children in coastal South India. Journal of global infectious diseases. 2014 Jul;6(3):95.

  • Nikam KD, Hirkani MA. International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences.

  • Bwalya D, Bråtveit M, Moen BE. Chronic respiratory symptoms among workers at a limestone factory in Zambia. Archives of environmental & occupational health. 2011 Jan 31;66(1):47-50.

  • Rodilla JM, Van der Haar R, Serra C, Zock JP, Delclòs J. asociación entre la exposición laboral a polvo de tiza y patología respiratoria en maestros de escuelas. Archivos de prevención de riesgos laborales. 2011;14(2):88-95.

  • Ohtsuka Y, Munakata M, Homma Y, Masaki Y, Ohe M, Amishima M, Kimura K, Ishikura H, Yoshiki T, Kawakami Y. Three cases of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia with bullae seen in schoolteachers. American journal of industrial medicine. 1995 Sep 1;28(3):425-35.

  • Whelan EA, Lawson CC, Grajewski B, Petersen MR, Pinkerton LE, Ward EM, Schnorr TM. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among female flight attendants and teachers. Occupational and environmental medicine. 2003 Dec 1;60(12):929-34.

  • Singh AB, Mathur C. An aerobiological perspective in allergy and asthma. Asia Pacific Allergy. 2012 Jul 1;2(3):210-22.

  • Bedi U, Dang BK. A study of peak expiratory flow rate in normal healthy children of Punjab. International Journal of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2016 Jan 1;5(1):1042-7.

  • Pinto LM, Gupta N, Tan W, Li PZ, Benedetti A, Jones PW, Bourbeau J. Derivation of normative data for the COPD assessment test (CAT). Respiratory research. 2014 Dec;15(1):68.

  • Jones PW, Shahrour N, Nejjari C, Lahlou A, Doble A, Rashid N, El Hasnaoui A. Psychometric evaluation of the COPD assessment test: data from the BREATHE study in the Middle East and North Africa region. Respiratory medicine. 2012 Dec 1;106:S86-99.

  • Ghoshal AG, Ravindran GD, Gangwal P, Rajadhyaksha G, Cho SH, Muttalif AR, Lin HC, Thanaviratananich S, Bagga S, Faruqi R, Sajjan S. The burden of segregated respiratory diseases in India and the quality of care in these patients: Results from the Asia-Pacific Burden of Respiratory Diseases study. Lung India: official organ of Indian Chest Society. 2016 Nov;33(6):611.

  • Vaidya P, Kashyap S, Sharma A, Gupta D, Mohapatra PR. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function tests in school teachers of Shimla. Lung India. 2007 Jan 1;24(1):6.

  • Zhang Y, Yang Z, Chen Y, Li R, Geng H, Dong W, Cai Z, Dong C. Fine chalk dust induces inflammatory response via p38 and ERK MAPK pathway in rat lung. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2018 Jan 1;25(2):1742-51.

  • Szász ZÁ, Székely-Vass E, Horváth G, Hozoi M. Chalk-induced Lung Fibrosis—Case Report. Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine. 2017 Dec 28.

  • Majumdar D, William SP. Chalk dustfall during classroom teaching: particle size distribution and morphological characteristics. Environmental monitoring and assessment. 2009 Jan 1;148(14):343-51.

  • Adeniyi A, Erhabor G. The peak flow meter and its use in clinical practice. Afr J Respir Med. 2011 Mar 5;6(2):5-7.

  • Boezen HM, Schouten JP, Postma DS, Rijcken B. Distribution of peak expiratory flow variability by age, gender and smoking habits in a random population sample aged 20-70 yrs. European Respiratory Journal. 1994 Oct 1;7(10):1814-20.

  • Jones PW, Harding G, Berry P, Wiklund I, Chen WH, Leidy NK. Development and first validation of the COPD Assessment Test. European Respiratory Journal. 2009 Sep 1;34(3):648-54.

  • Meyers DA, Larj MJ, Lange L. Genetics of asthma and COPD: similar results for different phenotypes. Chest. 2004 Aug 1;126(2):105S-10S.

  • DeMeo DL, Mariani TJ, Lange C, Srisuma S, Litonjua AA, Celedón JC, Lake SL, Reilly JJ, Chapman HA, Mecham BH, Haley KJ. The SERPINE2 gene is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The American Journal of Human Genetics. 2006 Feb 1;78(2):253-64.

  • American Lung Association, “how can I determine a normal peak flow rate for me?” Archived from the original on 2007-11-03


Abstract Views: 664

PDF Views: 0




  • Effect of Chalk Dust Exposure on PEFR and CAT in School Teachers

Abstract Views: 664  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Sukhada Prabhu
Cardio Vascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiotherapy and Physical Diagnosis, School of Physiotherapy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Manasi Desai
Department of Neuro Physiotherapy, School of Physiotherapy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Samiksha Harer
D.Y. Patil University, School of Physiotherapy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra,, India

Abstract


In teachers, occupational exposure to chalk dust is very common. Classrooms contain of fine particulate matter that source from chalk dust.

To further evaluate and study the symptoms of respiratory illness in school teachers, the present study was conducted in order to evaluate individual’s degree of obstruction using the PEFR, and its impact on their overall health, using COPD assessment test.

This comparative study was conducted in 40 School teachers and 40 normal healthy individuals. The data for this study was collected using mini Bell’s PEFR device and the COPD Assessment test (CAT). An analysis of the data showed that the mean CAT score of group A (teachers) was significantly higher (p=0.001) than group B (normal individuals). The mean PEFR for group B was higher than group A, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Hence, the study concluded that respiratory symptoms significantly impacted the health of school teachers. They also showed signs of airway obstruction as compared to normal individuals.


Keywords


Chalk Dust Exposure,PEFR, CAT, Teachers.

References