Peak expiratory flow rate in flour mill workers.

The current cross-sectional study with a comparison group was undertaken to investigate peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in flour mill workers and to study relationship between reduction in PEFR and age, smoking, exposure to grain dust and respiratory morbidity. The study included 286 flour mill workers and equal number of neighbourhood controls group-matched for age. PEFR was measured by using Wright's Peak Flow Meter. PEFR was significantly reduced in flour mill workers as compared to comparison group. The decline in PEFR was significantly associated with grain dust exposure, duration of exposure, tobacco smoking and presence of respiratory morbidity.