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Acute symptoms in coffee workers.
1Central Chest Clinic, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Workers exposed to green coffee dust experienced acute eye, nose, and respiratory symptoms. These occupational health issues, including cough and breathing difficulties, resolved when exposure to coffee dust ceased.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Medicine
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Green coffee processing in Sri Lanka generates significant dust.
- Intermittent exposure to this dust affects workers' health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute health effects of coffee dust exposure on workers.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted on thirty-eight workers exposed to coffee dust.
- Symptoms were recorded and analyzed in relation to exposure periods.
Main Results:
- Common symptoms included cough (84.2%), sputum (76.3%), sneezing (73.7%), dyspnea (63.2%), and rhinorrhea (55.3%).
- A wheeze was observed in 10.5% of the workers.
- Symptoms were transient, subsiding after work hours.
Conclusions:
- Green coffee dust exposure causes acute, reversible respiratory and ocular symptoms in workers.
- This highlights the need for dust control measures in coffee processing facilities.