Responses to cotton dust.

Twelve cotton textile workers were studied: (1) to compare standard measures of volume and expiratory flow, maximal expiratory flow volume (MEFV) curves, closing volume (CV), and closing capacity (CC) in detection of airway narrowing with cotton dust exposure; (2) to evaluate the response of arterial blood gases to exposure; (3) to measure changes in leukocytes in peripheral blood and airway secretions; and (4) to assess the temporal relationships and correlations between measures. Change in expiratory flow (FEV) most consistently and significantly discriminated between the control and cotton dust exposures. Vmax50%FVC was a more sensitive indicator, but variance was increased proportionately. CV and CC changed inconsistently with relatively large variances. The PaO-2 decreased overall and two subjects had large decrements. Peripheral blood and polymorphonuclear cell counts increased with exposure to cotton dust and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were recruited to the nasal mucosa. Chest tightness and decreased flow were temporally correlated with leukocyte recruitment that may be important in respiratory disease among cotton textile workers and therefore deserves further investigation.