Research of Physical and Chemical Properties of Oral Fluid in Workers of Industrial Productions with Harmful Factors
Authors:   Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Dentistry Department. 2, Halytska Str., Ivano-Frankivsk 76000, Ukraine, Ilnytska O. M. 
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical and chemical properties of oral fluid in industrial workers with harmful factors. Materials and methods. To conduct this study 2 groups were formed. The main group (81 people) includes workers of three industrial productions of Ivano-Frankivsk region: workers of chemical production, glass production and workers of agro-industrial complex. The control group consisted of 60 administrative and support staff of these industries, who did not come into contact with industrial hazards. The age of the subjects was 25-55 years. Work experience at the factory was from 0.5 to 15 years. The rate of salivation, viscosity and acidity of the oral fluid were studied. Results and discussion. Already in the first year of work in the conditions of harmful production the rate of secretion of mixed saliva in the subjects of the main group was lower compared to the control, but the recorded figure of 0.540.01ml/min was within the generally accepted norm. With work experience of 1-5 years, the secretion rate of mixed saliva in the main group decreased to 0.440.02 ml/min, which is by 1.2 times lower than that with work experience of up to one year and by 1.6 times lower compared to the control. With work experience of 5-10 years, the rate of salivation in the main group increased slightly to 0.470.01 ml/min, remaining significantly lower compared to the control. The lowest salivation rate is 0.390.02 ml/min, recorded in employees with more than 10 years of experience, which is by 1.4 times lower than in the case of experience up to 1 year and by 1.5 times lower than in the control. With the increase in work experience in the main group, there was a progressive increase in the viscosity of oral fluid, the maximum value of which is 2.180.19 MPas, found in people with work experience over 10 years, which is by 1.6 times higher than indicators of the group with experience up to 1 year and by 1.6 times higher than the value of the control group. With the increase of work experience in the subjects of the main group, a decrease in the pH of oral fluid from 6.750.09 with experience up to one year to 6.34  0.03 with experience over 10 years. The pH of oral fluid in subjects with more than one year of experience was lower both compared to 1 year of experience and compared to the control. The obtained data allowed to establish the following changes in the studied parameters: the rate of salivation on average was 0.440.02 ml/min, which is lower compared to the control group (0.730.01 ml/min) by 1.7 times. The mean value of the viscosity of the oral fluid (1.820.07 MPaS) was also significantly higher than the same in the control (1.330.03 MPaS) by 1.3 times. When determining the concentration of hydrogen ions in the oral fluid of the main group, the average pH value was 6.490.05, which is by 1.04 times lower than the value of 6.770.05 in the control group. Conclusion. The results of the study revealed changes in the oral homeostasis of industrial workers exposed to occupational pathogens: a decrease in salivation may indicate a violation of the secretory function of the salivary glands under the influence of harmful factors, which naturally affects increased saliva viscosity. The predominance of acidosis in the oral cavity and the reduction of the protective properties of saliva is an important factor in creating a periodontal situation in the oral cavity of workers and aggravating the course of periodontal disease in this category of the population. The analysis of the received data allows to assume that periodontopathogenic influence of a complex of harmful production factors of industrial production is realized largely due to change of properties of oral fluid of workers