Byssinosis : As seen in cotton spinning mill workers of Karachi

To identify Byssinosis in cotton spinning mill workers, probable associations of disease with factors such as different work areas, safety gadget usage and overtime and to ascertain proportions of byssinosis to accidental injuries. This study was conducted in a spinning mill of Karachi in June 2006....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 2008-02, Vol.58 (2), p.95-98
Main Authors: MOHAMMED IRFAN FAROOQUE, KHAN, Bushra, AZIZ, Erum, MOOSA, Mehreen, RAHEEL, Mohammed, KUMAR, Santosh, FARAH ASAD MANSURI
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Byssinosis - epidemiology
Byssinosis - etiology
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Cotton Fiber
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
General aspects
Health Surveys
Humans
Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.)
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Health
Pakistan - epidemiology
Pilot Projects
Protective Devices
Respiratory Function Tests
Risk Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Textile Industry
Textiles
Toxicology
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Summary:To identify Byssinosis in cotton spinning mill workers, probable associations of disease with factors such as different work areas, safety gadget usage and overtime and to ascertain proportions of byssinosis to accidental injuries. This study was conducted in a spinning mill of Karachi in June 2006. Mill workers who had worked for a period of minimum 5 years were selected. A sample size of 83 conveniently selected workers participated in the research study. Data collection was done via questionnaire, and pulmonary function tests. The mean age of the sample was 30 +/- 6.9 years. Of all the workers 72% used safety gadgets (masks) while working and 50% availed overtime. Smokers amounted to 31% of the total subjects. Around 35% workers complained of having respiratory ailments of which 19% (16 workers) closely matched byssinotic symptoms. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) confirmed 13 of 16 workers to be byssinotics, with the remaining being labeled as Probables. The overall proportion of Byssinotics in the mill was 19.28% (95% C.I. 11-27) and that of accidental injuries was 22.9%. The association of byssinosis with respect to work areas was significantly high in Ring area (O.R. = 2.04) followed by carding (O.R. = 1.3). The association of byssinosis was also high in workers who did not use safety gadgets, e.g. dust masks (O.R = 4.89) and in people who worked overtime (O.R. = 1.82). Associations with respect to duration of employment and smoking could not yield significant results. Results indicate a very high probability of association of disease to non-usage of safety gadgets and overtime working. Studies comprising of a greater sample size would show precisely the overall prevalence of the disease.
ISSN:0030-9982