Reduced Lung Function among Workers in Primary Coffee Processing Factories in Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Pulmonology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Workplace dust exposure, particularly in coffee processing, is a significant risk factor for respiratory ailments.
• Ethiopian coffee factories present a unique environment for studying the occupational health impacts of coffee dust.
• Understanding the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function changes is crucial for worker well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in Ethiopian coffee processing factory workers.
• To assess lung function (spirometry) in coffee workers compared to a control group.
• To identify specific respiratory health risks associated with coffee dust exposure in the workplace.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 115 coffee workers and 110 water bottling workers (controls) from Ethiopian factories.
• Standardized questionnaires from the American Thoracic Society (ATS) were used for assessing respiratory symptoms.
• Lung function tests, including forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, were conducted following ATS guidelines.

Main Results:

• Coffee workers exhibited significantly higher rates of coughing, sputum production, breathlessness, work-related shortness of breath, and wheezing compared to controls.
• Prevalence ratios for work-related shortness of breath (PR=3.7) and wheezing (PR=3.3) were significantly elevated in coffee workers.
• Coffee workers aged 28-39 and 40+ showed significantly reduced forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second compared to age-matched controls.

Conclusions:

• Coffee dust exposure is linked to a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function in Ethiopian coffee factory workers.
• The findings underscore the necessity of implementing protective measures and further longitudinal research to understand the long-term effects of coffee dust.
• Occupational health strategies are needed to mitigate the respiratory risks faced by individuals in the coffee processing industry.