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Variation of lung function during the workshift among cotton and jute workers
D Choudat1, F Neukirch, P Brochard
1Département de Médecine du Travail, Faculté Cochin-Port-Royal, Paris, France.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Occupational exposure to cotton and jute dust can cause reversible airway obstruction. Workers exposed to these dusts showed impaired lung function by the end of the work week, unlike controls.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Occupational exposure to cotton and jute dust is a known cause of reversible airway obstruction.
- Workers in textile industries may experience adverse respiratory effects from dust inhalation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare respiratory symptoms and ventilatory impairment between workers exposed to cotton and jute dust and non-exposed individuals.
- To assess variations in pulmonary function over a work week and after salbutamol inhalation in exposed workers.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 50 exposed workers and 99 non-exposed controls.
- Pulmonary function tests were conducted on Monday morning and Friday afternoon.
- Pharmacological testing with salbutamol was performed to assess bronchodilator response.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms between the groups.
- Significant differences in pulmonary function were observed by Friday afternoon, with exposed workers showing reduced flow rates.
- Exposed workers exhibited a greater bronchodilator response to salbutamol.
Conclusions:
- Repeated pulmonary function testing combined with pharmacological challenges can differentiate lung function patterns between exposed and non-exposed workers.
- End-of-week pulmonary function decline highlights the impact of occupational dust exposure.
- Control groups are essential for accurately assessing changes in pulmonary function due to workplace exposures.