EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT FOR PREVALENCE OF LUNG RELATED DISEASES IN COTTON OPERATIVES (GINNERS)

Abstract

This study was conducted on exposure assessment for the prevalence of lung related diseases in cotton ginners. The study included 75 subjects in the age groups of 15–65 years from similar socio-economic status. Fifty subjects were exposed to cotton dust, while 25 were not exposed. The pulmonary function test, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was performed to diagnose the presence of any lung related disorder. The decrease in PEFR showed an obstructive impairment. PEFR values of exposed subjects (M = 272.80 SD = 95.94) were compared with the unexposed subjects (M = 545.00 SD = 101.55). The difference between the two groups was significant, t(df) = -11.360, p = 0.000. The main results revealed that the subjects exposed to cotton dust had more respiratory disorders than unexposed subjects (p<0.01). The prevalence of chronic bronchitis, occupational asthma, inhalation fever, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cough were 42%, 18%, 34%, 6% and 80%, respectively among the exposed vs (0%) among unexposed. It was concluded that 52% cotton ginners had all types of byssinosis while no lung related diseases prevailed among the unexposed subjects.