Source: International Congress 2015 – Occupational and environmental cohort investigations and population studies

Abstract

Continuous exposure to cotton dust is associated with progressive impairment of pulmonary function. Un-hygienic conditions are contributing factors for eye-problems, cough, headache and other health problems in weaving industries. Various mechanical and chemical processes are employed in textile industries, resulting in different acute and chronic environmental and health problems. For nearly 300 years, work in textile industry has been recognized as hazardous. It is often associated with respiratory tract symptoms. By far the most important respiratory disease in that industry is byssinosis.To establish the relationship between cotton dust exposure and decline in pulmonary functions and byssinosis in cotton workers, this field study set out to examine a representative sample of 800 workers in the Punjab cotton industries by questionnaire and clinical examination. In a sub-sample of 161 workers and a control group spirometry was performed and 102 samples of buccal cells were obtained to check for cytotoxic and mutagenic effects. The health data are complemented by industrial hygiene data: concentrations of inhalable dust were exceptionally high at some sites. Dust samples were collected to be analysed for endotoxins. Ergonomic and working conditions (noise, accident hazards, etc.) were recorded by applying a standardised form.Age adjusted lung function values declined significantly with duration of exposure and reported symptoms rates increased. Dust levels were highest in smaller factories producing for the local market. Buccal cells displayed signs of cytotoxicity. With increasing number of working years also genotoxic changes (micronuclei) were significantly more frequent.


Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
Hanns Moshammer (Vienna, Austria), Abdul W. Khan, Hanns Moshammer. Respiratory health in the cotton industry in Pakistan. Eur Respir J 2015; 46: Suppl. 59, 1176

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Workers’ respiratory health status in a medium-sized building yard Source: Annual Congress 2013 –Occupational respiratory diseases: obstructive, interstitial lung diseases and methods of diagnosis Year: 2013 Asthma prevalence and pulmonary function tests among flourmill workers in Northern Greece Source: International Congress 2015 – Work, environment and the epidemiology of asthma Year: 2015 Evolution of pulmonary function in European community respiratory health survey Source: International Congress 2014 – Phenotyping and monitoring asthma and COPD Year: 2014 Respiratory symptoms, lung function tests and airway responsiveness among automobile spray painters Source: International Congress 2014 – Occupational respiratory diseases: from drug-induced disease to COPD induced by the uranium industry Year: 2014 Preliminary screening for respiratory disease among workers in a garment factory (GF) Source: Annual Congress 2013 –Occupational respiratory diseases: obstructive, interstitial lung diseases and methods of diagnosis Year: 2013 Spirometry during public events Source: Annual Congress 2013 –Assessing the prevalence of COPD in the general population Year: 2013 Lung function and nutritional status in urban Malagasy children Source: International Congress 2014 – New aspects of lung function testing in children Year: 2014 Lung function and respiratory symptoms in children from an electronic waste recycling area in China Source: International Congress 2015 – Highlights in paediatric epidemiology: air pollution, asthma and primary ciliary dyskinesia Year: 2015 Respiratory disorders of the producers and users of man made mineral fibres - Comparative study Source: International Congress 2015 – Occupational and environmental cohort investigations and population studies Year: 2015 High prevalence of respiratory symptoms and obstructive airways diseases among employees of the 'sanitation department' in an Indian city Source: International Congress 2014 – Occupational respiratory diseases Year: 2014 Assessment of asthma in firefighter applicants Source: International Congress 2016 – Occupational epidemiology Year: 2016 Effect of exposure to smoke generated from sacred fire on pulmonary function of priests Source: International Congress 2014 – Occupational respiratory diseases Year: 2014 Asbestos exposure,a still present issue for occupational physicians Source: International Congress 2014 – Occupational asthma, abestosis and silicosis Year: 2014 Exposure associated respiratory impairments among Indian tea industry workers Source: International Congress 2015 – Novel occupational exposures and responses Year: 2015 The utility of airfed RPE in the management of workers with metal-working fluid occupational asthma Source: International Congress 2016 – Occupational epidemiology Year: 2016 Respiratory effects of cannabis smoking: A literature review Source: International Congress 2016 – Prevalence, prognosis, and risk factors of COPD Year: 2016 Biologic quality control variability among pulmonary function testing systems across British Columbia Source: International Congress 2014 – Respiratory function: quality and new technologies Year: 2014 Respiratory health and disease in Europe: the new European Lung White Book Source: Eur Respir J 2013; 42: 559-563 Year: 2013 Predicting sensitization and allergy in bakery workers participating a surveillance programme Source: International Congress 2015 – Work, environment and the epidemiology of asthma Year: 2015 Lung function testing: Knowledge of French pulmonology residents Source: International Congress 2015 – New developments in medical education, web and internet Year: 2015