Respiratory findings in spice factory workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Spice industry workers face potential respiratory hazards due to airborne particles.
• Chronic and acute respiratory symptoms are common concerns in dusty occupational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the respiratory health effects of spice factory work.
• To assess chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and lung function changes in spice workers.
• To evaluate the efficacy of disodium cromoglycate (DSC) in mitigating acute lung function decline.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing 92 female spice factory workers with 104 female controls.
• Prevalence assessment of chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, phlegm, bronchitis, nasal catarrh, sinusitis).
• Measurement of lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1.0, FEF50, FEF25) across workshifts, with and without DSC administration.

Main Results:

• Spice workers showed significantly higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms compared to controls (p < .01).
• Acute, statistically significant reductions in lung function (FVC, FEV1.0, FEF50, FEF25) were observed during workshifts.
• Disodium cromoglycate (DSC) inhalation reduced acute lung function decline (FEF50, FEF25).
• Lower Monday preshift FEF50 and FEF25 in spice workers suggest early irreversible changes.

Conclusions:

• Spice factory work is associated with a high burden of chronic and acute respiratory symptoms.
• Occupational exposure leads to acute lung function impairment during the workshift.
• Early irreversible lung function changes may occur, necessitating preventive measures.