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Ventilatory function of factory workers exposed to tea dust
P L Jayawardana1, M Udupihille
1Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Workers exposed to tea dust for over five years experienced significantly higher rates of respiratory symptoms and small airways obstruction. This occupational exposure impacts lung function, highlighting the need for workplace safety measures in tea processing.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Tea dust exposure is a potential occupational hazard in tea manufacturing.
- Long-term exposure effects on respiratory health are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in tea dust-exposed workers.
- To assess the impact of tea dust exposure on ventilatory capacity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 53 tea factory workers (sifting process) with 53 matched field workers.
- Respiratory symptoms assessed via questionnaire; ventilatory capacity measured by spirometry (FVC, FEV1.0, FEF 25-75%).
- Chest radiography performed on the study group.
Main Results:
- The tea dust-exposed group showed an 11.6-fold increased odds ratio for chronic respiratory symptoms.
- Significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1.0) and forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF 25-75%) were observed.
- No tuberculosis found; one case of bronchiectasis identified in the exposed group.
Conclusions:
- Chronic exposure to tea dust significantly increases respiratory symptom prevalence.
- Tea dust exposure leads to small airways obstruction, impacting lung function.
- Occupational health interventions are crucial for tea industry workers.