本研究設計採橫斷面研究(cross-sectional)方法,目的在了解消防員呼吸道症狀及肺功能異常的盛行率。選取台北市政府消防大隊外勤人員495人為研究對象,並以台北市政府保安大隊男性警員437人為對照組,其重要發現如下: 1.消防員非特異性呼吸道症狀盛行率為咳嗽19.6%、慢性咳嗽5.1%、咳痰28.9%、慢性咳痰5.9%、慢性支氣管炎4.8%、喘鳴5.9%、呼吸短促8.3%;在咳痰、慢性咳痰、慢支氣管炎及呼吸短促等症狀之盛行率顯著高於對照組。肺功能異常盛行率5.6%,其中限制型者佔4.6%,阻塞型者佔1.0%。2.消防員的肺功能減損及較高的呼吸道症狀盛行率,只有在抽煙者才較對照組為高,可見救火效應加上抽煙的作用,才是造成消防員肺功能減損及呼吸道症狀過高的原因。3.在不抽煙的消防員,其慢性支氣管炎盛行率隨著工作年數的增加而增加。可見,救火可能造成慢性支氣管炎症狀之增加。4.消防員中抽煙者肺功能會隨著工作年資的增加而越差;且在工作年資10年以上者,肺功能減損情形特別明顯。5.湇開救火火場的曝露,會使慢性支氣管炎症狀降低。6.曾經經過重度的煙曝露者(如曾被煙嗆傷,須送醫治療者),會使呼吸道症狀盛行率增加。
Health hazards accociated with firefighters have been investigated in various countries. This study surveyed respiratory symptoms and pulmonary effects among firefighters. The most important finding as follows: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms, Covgh (19.6%), Chronic covgh (5.1%), Covgh c sputum (28.9%), Chronic covgh c sputum (5.9%), Chronic bronchitis (4.8%), Wheezing (5.9%), Shortness of breath (8.3%), Pulmonary fuction test revealed that 5.6% was abnormal, Restrictive type (4.6%), ob-structive type (1.0%). The abnormal finding was higher than control group. Smoking was an contribu-tory factor to aggravate the respiratory symptoms. If the workers cdased exposure, the symptoms will lessen.