A comparative environmental and medical study of dust exposure in jute and cotton mills in Burma.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc
; 65(3-4): 349-75, 1990.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-2151953
ABSTRACT
Jute is extensively cultivated and processed in Burma, as well as "lower-grade" cotton. This study was conducted there to compare dust exposure in jute and cotton mills, to study the acute and chronic effects of dust exposure on workers, and to establish exposure-response relationship. A sample of 799 male and female workers in two jute mills and two cotton textile mills, as well as a control group of 153 matching subjects, was examined, and dust exposure in the work environment was evaluated. Very high dust concentrations existed in the early stages of jute processing and sorting, which were reduced when jute fibers got cleaner, as in drawing and spinning, and were related to the grade of the processed fiber. Much lower concentrations of dust existed in the cotton mills, but exceeded the TLV (ACGIH) only in opening and cleaning and in carding operations. However, byssinosis occurred only in workers exposed to cotton dust, particularly among males, and its prevalence was related to the level and duration of dust exposure. Chronic bronchitis, cough and wheezing occurred at higher rates among all workers than in the control, while irritation to nose and throat, eyes and skin prevailed only among jute workers. A significant reduction in FVC, FEV1.0 and PEF (before and during shift) was observed in workers compared to control subjects, and was related to workers' exposure and age; however, this reduction was not related to symptoms of different respiratory conditions. "Cheroots" smoking was found to be an important potentiating factor in the occurrence of non-specific respiratory diseases and reduction in FEV1.0, particularly among jute workers.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Indústria Têxtil
/
Bissinose
/
Exposição Ocupacional
/
Gossypium
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Egypt Public Health Assoc
Ano de publicação:
1990
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Egito