Introduction: Car repair technicians use chemicals during their work. These chemicals
become airborne during its application and can be easily inhaled and cause harm to the
respiratory system. Aim of work: The current study aims to describe the magnitude
of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function disorders among automobile repair
workers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed
on 121 automobile repair workers. The workers completed a predesigned questionnaire
to collect socio-demographic data, including occupational history, special habits, and
respiratory complaints. The pulmonary function tests were carried out utilizing Spirolab-
III from MIR Company with Winspiro Pro software, a calibrated spirometer with a
built-in computer program. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in
one second (FEV1), and the ratio of these variables (FEV1/FVC) was measured as a
percentage of normal predicted levels according to age, gender, weight, and height.
Results: Dry cough and chest tightness were the most common respiratory symptoms
(33.9% and 23.1%, respectively); however, only 4% of the automobile repair workers
used respiratory protective equipment. More than one-third (38.8%) of the subjects
had pulmonary function (PF) disorders (19% with obstructive patterns and 19.8% with
restrictive patterns). Pulmonary function disorders were common among the older (>30  years), compared to the younger age group (≤30 years) (48.1% vs. 22.7%, respectively)
and workers who are exposed to brake fluid. Smoking, obesity, and a long duration of
employment had no significant associations with PF disorders. Conclusion: The current
study showed that two out of five car mechanics exhibited changes in pulmonary functions
that were equally distributed between obstructive and restrictive impairments. Pulmonary
function disorders were common among the older age group, regardless of smoking or a
long employment duration. The promotion of workplace safety and the periodic spirometry
examination of individuals is required to detect any respiratory changes.