Abstract
Background: Environmental air pollution is the main risk factor for lung cancer. The objective of the present study was to assess cytomorphological changes in sputum specimens of individuals working in the car-maintenance industrial area. Methodology: A total of 75 sputum specimens were obtained and demonstrated adopting the standard Pap method. Results: The results showed abnormal cytological changes in a form of atypical cellular changes (n=6, 8%), metaplastic cellular changes (n=12, 16%), in addition to inflammatory changes (n=19, 25.4%). Conclusion: Occupational exposure to air polluted with vehicle emissions is a risk factor for developing precancerous changes in lung epithelial cells. People who work in these heavily industrialized areas should be subject to ongoing sputum cytological examination.