OBJECTIVES: Lung function tests have become an integral part of assessment of pulmonary disease. Diseases of the respiratory system induced by occupational dusts are influenced by the duration of exposure. The aim of the study is to investigate the impairment of lung function and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the rice mill workers. METHODS: A total of 120 rice mill workers from three districts of Karnataka were included in this study. Fifty urban dwellers from the same socio-economic level were selected as controls. The study included clinical examination, assessment of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function test, measurement of peak expiratory flow rate, absolute eosinophil count, ESR estimation, total IgE estimation and radiographic test. RESULTS: The present study has shown that the rice mill workers complained of several types of respiratory disorders like phlegm (40.8 %), dyspnea (44.2 %), chest tightness (26.7 %), cough (21.7 %), and nose irritation (27.5 %). Rice mill workers exposed to dust presented significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of FVC (3.44 ± 0.11), FEV1 (2.73 ± 0.15) and PEFR (304.95 ± 28.79) than the controls. The rice mill workers are having significantly higher absolute eosinophil counts, total IgE and ESR than control groups. The hematological findings suggest that the harmful effects may be linked to both non-specific irritation and allergic responses to rice husk dust among rice mill workers. CONCLUSION: Dust exposure in the working environment affects the lung function values and increased the respiratory symptoms among the rice mill workers.
OBJECTIVES: Lung function tests have become an integral part of assessment of pulmonary disease. Diseases of the respiratory system induced by occupational dusts are influenced by the duration of exposure. The aim of the study is to investigate the impairment of lung function and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the rice mill workers. METHODS: A total of 120 rice mill workers from three districts of Karnataka were included in this study. Fifty urban dwellers from the same socio-economic level were selected as controls. The study included clinical examination, assessment of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function test, measurement of peak expiratory flow rate, absolute eosinophil count, ESR estimation, total IgE estimation and radiographic test. RESULTS: The present study has shown that the rice mill workers complained of several types of respiratory disorders like phlegm (40.8 %), dyspnea (44.2 %), chest tightness (26.7 %), cough (21.7 %), and nose irritation (27.5 %). Rice mill workers exposed to dust presented significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of FVC (3.44 ± 0.11), FEV1 (2.73 ± 0.15) and PEFR (304.95 ± 28.79) than the controls. The rice mill workers are having significantly higher absolute eosinophil counts, total IgE and ESR than control groups. The hematological findings suggest that the harmful effects may be linked to both non-specific irritation and allergic responses to rice husk dust among rice mill workers. CONCLUSION: Dust exposure in the working environment affects the lung function values and increased the respiratory symptoms among the rice mill workers.
Authors: X-R Wang; E A Eisen; H-X Zhang; B-X Sun; H-L Dai; L-D Pan; D H Wegman; S A Olenchock; D C Christiani Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Heidi Andersén; Pinja Ilmarinen; Jasmin Honkamäki; Leena E Tuomisto; Päivi Piirilä; Hanna Hisinger-Mölkänen; Anssi Sovijärvi; Helena Backman; Bo Lundbäck; Eva Rönmark; Lauri Lehtimäki; Hannu Kankaanranta Journal: Eur Clin Respir J Date: 2020-12-10
Authors: Soumit Roy; Aparajita Dasgupta; Lina Bandyopadhyay; Bobby Paul; Sayanti Bandyopadhyay; Mukesh Kumar Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2020-01-28