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Follow-up study of respiratory function in hemp workers
E Zuskin1, J Mustajbegovic, E N Schachter
1Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Medical Faculty University of Zagreb, Croatia.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Textile workers exposed to hemp dust show persistent respiratory symptoms and declining lung function, especially those with byssinosis. High dust levels in poorly regulated mills indicate ongoing health risks from hemp exposure.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Textile workers in hemp processing mills are at risk of respiratory issues.
- Byssinosis is a known occupational lung disease associated with textile dust.
- Previous studies indicated respiratory problems in hemp mill workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term respiratory health effects of hemp exposure in textile workers.
- To evaluate the persistence of respiratory symptoms and changes in ventilatory capacity over three years.
- To correlate dust exposure levels with respiratory health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A 3-year follow-up study of 66 textile workers (38 women, 28 men) from a soft hemp processing mill.
- Recorded acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity, including Maximum Expiratory Flow-Volume (MEFV) curves.
- Measured Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), 1-second Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1), and flow rates (FEF50, FEF25).
- Measured dust concentrations using Hexhlet filters.
Main Results:
- High prevalences of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms, particularly byssinosis, persisted.
- Statistically significant across-shift reductions in ventilatory capacity were observed.
- A large mean annual decline in FEV1 (women) and all ventilatory parameters (men) was calculated.
- Accelerated FEV1 decline in women, predominantly non-smokers, suggests a direct hemp effect.
- Very high total and respirable dust concentrations were measured, exceeding North American standards.
Conclusions:
- Work in the hemp industry, especially in small, poorly regulated mills, leads to persistent respiratory symptoms and significant lung function decline.
- Byssinosis remains highly prevalent among hemp textile workers.
- High occupational dust exposure in hemp processing poses a continued threat to respiratory health.