Saygun, MeralÇakmak, AytulEkici, AydanurPinar, TevfikBulcun, EmelUlu, NuriyeEkici, Mehmet2020-06-252020-06-252007closedAccess10762752https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e318124a8f3https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12587/1951OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether long-term, low-level exposures to solvents had adverse longitudinal effects on pulmonary functions. METHODS: The study was performed on 1091 workers 5 years ago and then on 697 workers 5 years later. Chronic respiratory symptoms were recorded using a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: The annual decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second in the workers exposed to solvents was not significantly different from that of the unexposed workers (69.7 ± 89.9 vs 75.8 ± 87.6 mL/yr, P = 0.5, respectively). In 453 workers who were exposed to solvents 5 years ago, the prevalence rate of asthma was 1.1%. Five years later, it was 3.6% in 193 workers from the same group. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinally, the chronic exposure to low doses of solvents does not adversely affect the pulmonary functions, whereas it increases the asthma prevalence. ©2007The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessArticle49890991210.1097/JOM.0b013e318124a8f32-s2.0-3454786987017693789Q2