This study was attempted to evaluate the effect of the working environment on the health of labors, especially their lung volumes and pulmonary functions. For this inves￢tigation, 469 labors(356 male and 113 female) working in several factories in Taejeon area, were randomly selected as an experimental group and 142 healthy normal adults (86 male and 56 female) as a control group. The experimental and control groups were devided into three age-subgroups in male and two age-subgroups in female, respectively.
The measurement was made on the vital capacity(VC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), maximum mid-expiratory flow(MW) and forced expiratory volume(FEVr) by means of spirometry.
As the measurement, ´careful efforts were made on reducing errors by asking the sub￢jects for their cooperation with the investigator. Each measurement was made in the standing position of the subjects, and the heighest values were taken after three repeated procedures in each manuever. All the measured values were subsequently converted into BTPS condition.
The results are summarized as follows
1. The physical characteristics of the experimental groups showed no significant differen￢ces with those of the control group.
2. The vital capacity of the male experimental groups and the ratio of vital capacity of the female experimental groups to their weight and height were significantly lowered than those of each control group.
3. Tne values of maximum voluntary ventilation of all experimental groups in both sexes showed lower than those of each control group. Especially, the ratio of the vital capacity to the weight in male, and to the weight and body surface area in female presented
significant differences, respectively.
4. The values of maximum mid-expiratory flow of the each experimental group in male, and its ratio of the maximum mid-expiratory flow of the female experimental groups their weight were significantly lower than those of each control group.
5. The forced expiratory volumes of the experimental groups in male, and at 0. 5sec in female experimental groups were significantly lower than those of each control group.
6. The ratio of the forced expiratory volumes to the vital capacity at 1. Osec in male, and at 0. 5 and 1. Osec in female experimental groups were significantly lower than those of each control group.
From the above results, it is suggested that the industrial labors with the decreased lung volume and increased airway resistance may be due to some factors in the working environment.
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