EXHALED NITRIC OXIDE LEVELS (FENO) IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRY WORKERS

Importance of measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) level has been increasing in recent years in the follow-up of many respiratory diseases, especially asthma. FeNO levels are known to be an indicator of airway inflammation. It is aimed to evaluate the FeNO measurement results in order to determine the risk in terms of occupational asthma in metal - casting, bakery, plastic and textile sectors. Our cross-sectional study was carried out 309 workers, 103 metal-casting, 44 in plastic sector, 42 in textile sector, 45 in bread production sector and 75 in the control group, aged 18-60 years between 2 January- 30 March 2017. in lkitelli Organized Industrial Zone, Istanbul. Ages, heights, weights, body mass indexes (BMIs), waist circumferences, working periods, smoking habits, current symptoms and use of protective masks of participant workers were questioned. FeNO levels were measured and the relationship between these parameters and pulmonary function parameters was examined. This difference was statistically significant when FeNO levels in the study group were measured higher than control group. Age, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, working period and presence of symptoms were not significantly correlated with FeNO levels, but FeNO level was significantly lower in current smokers compared to ex-smokers or nonsmokers. It was found statistically significant that the FeNO values of those with FEV1 (%) lower than 80% among the subjects included in the study were higher than 25. Measurement of the fraction of nitric oxide in exhaled breath (FeNO) has been proposed as a non invasive marker of airway inflammation. Periodic monitoring of FeNO level of employees may be useful for early diagnosis of occupational disease. However, more studies are needed on this subject.