Examination of Bronchial Reactivity in Workers Exposed to Microparticles PM2.5 and PM10 during Coal Surface Mining in the Bellaqevc Power Plants of Kosovo

Abstract

The impact of air pollution with microparticles (PM2.5 and PM10) on the respiratory systems of workers engaged in thesurface mining of coal at the Bellaqevc power plants of Kosovo is studied in this paper. The parameters of lung functionare defined via body plethysmography. The resistance of the airways (Raw) was recorded, intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) was measured, and the specific resistanceof the airways (SRaw) and specific conductance (SGaw) were calculated. The research was performed withintwo groups: a control group and experimental group. The control group consisted of 28 healthy people, whereas the experimental group consisted of 50 workers engaged in the surface mining of coal at the Bellaqevc power plants of Kosovo.
 The results obtained from this research indicated that the mean specific resistance (SRaw) was ​​significantly increased in the experimental group (p<0.01) compared to the control group (p>0.1). The study also found that smoking favors the adverse effects of air pollution caused by coalsurface mining at the Bellaqevc power plants (p<0.01).
 Measurements of the respiratory systems were made prior to and following provocation with histamine–aerosol (1 mg/ml) in the control and experimental groups. Changes between these two groups following this provocation with histamine–aerosol were found to be statistically significant (p<0.01).
 In order to cause a respiratory pathology from air pollution, it is required a lot of time, such pollution can permanently cause respiratory system disorders. These scientific findings suggest that the long-term exposure of workers to microparticles PM2.5 and PM10 during the processof surface mining coal at the Bellaqevc power plants of Kosovo poses a risk to their health by causing increased bronchial reactivity, bronchial asthma, orchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Manifestation of bronchial hyperreactivity from exposure to heavy and precious metal vapors among the ore smeltery workers of Zveçan, Kosovo

“…Some studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between respiratory parameters (SRaw and SGaw) and bronchial hyperreactivity in response to histamine or methacholine. [ 8 ]…”