ABSTRACT

With the aim to determine the effect of long-term exposure to cotton fibre dust among the workers; one hundred eighty six cotton textile workers were studied. A detailed questionnaire was taken with emphasis on respiratory symptoms. Their work history and socio-economic status also noted. The incidence of chest pain and filling of chest tightness, productive cough, difficulty in breathing and fever was 15%, 10%, 5% and 2%, respectively, and was significantly more common in smokers than in non-smokers. Stitching room was most dusty part of the industry and workers in this section had high incidence of severity of bronchitis and other respiratory disease. It was related to duration of work timing and the type of textile being stitched. The incidence was high in velvet textile stitching workers. Chronic exposure to cotton dust is related to both work specific and non-specific respiratory symptoms. Chronic bronchitis strongly associated with exposure to textile dust. Similar finding was also seen in published material available in this type of indoor pollution.