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Prevalence of byssinosis and respiratory symptoms among spinners in sudanese cotton mills
Author(s) -
ElKarim Mohamed A. Awad,
Onsa Sulieman H.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700120305
Subject(s) - byssinosis , medicine , chronic bronchitis , bronchitis , respiratory system , toxicology , environmental health , biology
Abstract Byssinosis, other respiratory symptoms, and ventilatory capacity were investigated in 186 male spinners in two Sudanese textile mills located in Khartoum and Hassaheisa. The prevalence of byssinosis was 37% among Khartoum spinners where coarse cotton was processed, significantly higher (p<0.01) than the 1% found among Hassaheisa spinners, where fine cotton was used. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 29% in Khartoum and 2% in Hassaheisa spinners. A significant reduction in forced expiratory volumes (FEV 1 after a shift) was observed in spinners of both factories. Our findings provide evidence that very low rates or absence of byssinosis, related respiratory symptoms, and significant functional abnormalities (FEV 1 ) in the late stages of cotton yarn processing all depend on the quality of cotton used and low levels of cotton dust concentration.