Byssinosis Respiratory Conditions among Textile Mill Workers in Bahir Dar - Ethiopia
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Date
1988-02
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence
of byssinosis and ather respiratory conditions among 595 workers
(322 male and 273 female) involved in dusty operations of a typical
Ethiopian textile mill located in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. A respiratory
questionnaire was administered and pre-and post-shift forced
vital capacity (F VC) and forced expiratory volume in one second
(FEV 7) were determined for each worker. Multiple area air
samples were analysed fUr , elutriated dust concentration (range
\- / \ 3 ..
0.86-3.52 mg/m ) and personal sampling dust concentration (range:
7.03 - 3.83mg/m 3 ) The case study groups and control groups
were stratified by time weighted dust concentration and then
cross-tabulated with respect to high and low cumulative dust
exposure. The prevalence of byssinosis was assessed to be
43.2% among blowers and 37.5% in carders in comparison to 4
to 24% among workers in other sections. Chronic bronchitis
and bronchial asthma also occurred in the range of 77.6 to
47.7% and 8.5 to 20.5% respectively,
x vi
in all sections. Significant accrass- shift decrements in FEV 7
and F VC were observed in the case study groups when compared
with control group . The estimated relative risk of developing
byssinosis, bronchial osthma and chronic bronchitis accountable
to high cumulative dust ex posure were significant with an odds
ratio of 27.76 , 5.72 and 3.64 than to low cumulative dust
ex posure . Significant dose-response relationship for pulmonary
function and respiratory illnesses models was also observed by
regression analysis. The result of this study revealed that
the prevalence of byssinosis and other respiratory illnesses
was very high in one of the mills processing raw cotton. Applications
of proposed preventive measures and early detection of exposure
e ffects are expected to reduce the prevalence of byssinosis and
other respiratory illnesses. Further research including a nationwide
survery is suggested in order to determine the magnitude of
the problem nationwide. This study represents the first epidemiological
study of the textile industry in Ethiopia using diagnostic criterion
similar to those which are applied in developed countries, such
as the United States and Creat Britain. The study has also
enhanced our knowledge end experience in integrating occupational
health and intersectoral co-opera tion into practical implementation
of primary health care .
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Keywords
Byssinosis Respiratory Conditions