Toxicology and industrial health
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Lifeguards are frequently exposed to various irritant chemicals including chlorine during work, which can induce respiratory and allergic disorders. In this study, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and self-reported respiratory and allergic symptoms in lifeguards were compared with matched control subjects. The frequency of respiratory and allergic symptoms was evaluated in a sample of 38 Iranian male lifeguards and 38 control subjects with similar age, having other jobs from the general population, using a questionnaire including questions on work-related respiratory and allergic symptoms in the past year, smoking habits, and duration of working as a lifeguard. ⋯ In addition, most (all) PFT values were significantly improved after 200 µg inhaled salbutamol (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). These results showed that lifeguards have higher frequencies of work related respiratory symptoms and allergic symptoms particularly during the work period. PFT values were also significantly reduced among lifeguards.