Abstract:
This study was conducted at whit Nile state in Rabak city, during the
period March 2007 to April 2008. In this study, sputum cytology was
used to investigate the workers at Rabak Portland cement factory to
assess the effect of Portland cement on respiratory epithelium. 102
workers were participated in this study .the same number was
selected as control group .The mean age of workers group was 41.5
years. Information on personal characteristics, smoking, use of
personal protective equipment, oral moist snuff used, alcohol use
and occupational history & duration of work in the factory, was
obtained
by
questionnaire
interview.
Papanicolaou
stain
was
compared with may-Grunwald Giemsa, the prevalence of ab-normal
sputum cytology
of respiratory tract among exposed workers was
higher compared with none exposed. The most noticeable feature
was the presence of metaplastic changes and inflammatory changes
that was highly significant. There was no significant difference in the
respiratory inflammation between smokers and non- smokers
control.
. There was no effect of face mask uses. The prevalence
of respiratory metaplasia in quarry group was higher than the others
and
in
regeneration
group
the
prevalence
of
respiratory
inflammation was higher than the others occupational group. There
was no relationship between, duration of work in factory and
respiratory inflammation or metaplasia. . The result showed that was
more
prevalent
respiratory
metaplasia
among
center
tribes
compared with the others tribes and that more prevalent of
respiratory inflammation in west tribe compared with the others
tribe. Papanicolauo stain in sputum cytology proved to be superior to
may-Grunwald Giemsa stain .To improve the environment in factory
workers must be provided with good face mask which it protect dust
from entry inside respiratory tract and it is recommended to use
specific control measures, screening sputum cytology for early
detection of any pre malignant or chronic infection that could be
treated at early stage.