Tuberc Respir Dis.  1989 Mar;36(1):68-74. 10.4046/trd.1989.36.1.68.

Pulmonary Function Test and Diving Capacity of Woman Divers in Cheju Island

• KMID: 2528577
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1989.36.1.68

Abstract

Breath-hold diving is diving for 1 to 3 minutes at 20 m depth without breathing apparatus. Woman divers have collected seafood by breath-hold diving. They complained various symptoms. For the prevention of occupational disease, review of working and c1inical data is needed We examined 1438 woman divers, who had worked at Cheju island for many years The result was as follows: 1) Average age was 50.5 years and average working duration was 31.7 years. 2) Woman divers worked for 72.6 seconds each breath-hold diving and worked 12.5 days a month. 3) Vital capacity was 72.2% of predicted value, and average forced expiratory volume in one second was 1.51 liters. 4) Major symptoms were headache, arthralgia, chest pain, dyspnea and bowel habit change. 5) Those who complained headaches showed longer work time and more frequent diving than those not. 6) Seventy-eight percent of divers suffered from arthralgia, they were older, worked more frequently and rested less than those who not. 7) Work time was dependent on age, frequency and rest time. In conclusion, the pulmonary function test of woman divers showed not normal but combination pattern of mild restriction and obstruction. There was no demonstrable correlation between work time (diving capacity) and parameters of pulmonary function test.