[Respiratory function in textile workers involved in the processing of synthetic fibers]

The study included 308 female workers employed in processing synthetic stockings and 160 controls. The mean age of the exposed workers was 38 years with the mean exposure of 16 years. Most workers did not smoke while 41% of smokers consumed about 10 cigarettes a day. The data on acute and chronic respiratory symptoms were taken from all workers. Ventilatory capacity was measured by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves with readings on forced vital capacity (FVC), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and maximum expiratory flows at 50% and the last 25% (FEF50, and FEF25, respectively). Textile workers manifested a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms than did the controls, although the differences were statistically significant only for sinusitis, dyspnoea, and nasal catarrh. Occupational asthma was found in 3 (0.9%) textile workers. The prevalence of acute symptoms in the exposed workers was particularly high during shift, especially with regard to dryness of the nose (53%), dryness of the throat (49%), headache (47%), cough (47%), and the eye irritation (46%). Textile workers showed a significantly lower FEF25 than predicted. Our study on textile workers indicates that inhalation of synthetic fiber dust may impair the respiratory function.