An Epidemiological Study of Byssinosis Among Lancashire Cotton Workers

Schilling, R. S. F.; Hughes, J. P. W.; Dingwall‐Fordyce, I.; Gilson, J. C.

doi:10.1136/oem.12.3.217

Cited by 83 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In contrast to the effect noted in men suffering from byssinosis (Schilling, Hughes, Dingwall-Fordyce, and Gilson, 1955;McKerrow et al, 1958) the ventilatory capacity of coal-miners was not related to the day of the week.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

A Study of the Repeatability of Ventilatory Tests, Anthropometric Measurements, and Answers to a Respiratory Symptoms Questionnaire in Working Coal-miners

Ashford¹,

Forwell²,

Routledge³

1960

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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A study has been made in working coal-miners of the repeatability of ventilatory tests, anthropometric measurements, and the answers to a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms.On the first visit especially, there was evidence of a continuous increase in both forced expiratory volume (F.E.V.) and forced vital capacity (F.V.C.) from the first to sixth expirations at the same visit but it was minimal after the first expiration. No difference between the beginning and end of a shift was found. The effect on the F.E.V. and F.V.C. readings of the day of the week and time of day at which the examination was made was negligible. The observations recorded in Scotland were 15 % higher than those obtained in South Wales. Between the beginning and end of shift there was a small reduction in weight and in standing and sitting height measurements.The repeatability of the answers to the questionnaire was good. No consistent difference was found between doctor and clerk observers.In 1956 it was decided to include follow-up studies of ventilatory function as part of the medical examinations carried out by the Pneumoconiosis Field Research of the National Coal Board (Fay, 1957; Fay and Rae, 1959). In routine surveys in this scheme the mineworkers are all volunteers. This implies that they may present themselves for examination on any day of the week and either before or after working a shift. It was therefore considered necessary to examine the reproducibility of the proposed measurements. Investigations were carried out at a colliery in Fife and a colliery in South Wales before the routine surveys were started, to study the following factors:-(1) The variability in the measurements of the one-second forced expiratory volume (F.E.V.) and forced vital capacity (F.V.C.) at the same visit; (2) the effect of working a shift; (3) the effect of the time of day at which the man was examined; (4) the effect of the day of the week on which the man was examined; (5) the observer error when making measurements of F.E.V., F.V.C., standing height, sitting height, and weight; (6) the reproducibility of a short questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. DesignThe design of the trial was conditioned by the need to investigate the effect of the day of the week and the time of day at which the various tests were applied. As it was thought that the age and occupation of the subject might also have some effect on the results, account was also taken of these factors. At each colliery the working population was divided into five arbitrary age classes (under 30 years, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 60 and over) and five arbitrary occupational classes, of which two covered faceworkers, two covered non-faceworkers underground, and one covered surface workers. Each of these 25 groups was further subdivided into three subgroups, in terms of shift worked (days, afternoons, or nights) on the first of the two weeks during which the trial was carried out. The subjects for examination were then chosen at random, one from each of the 75 subgroups. To obtain a balance...

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

A Study of the Repeatability of Ventilatory Tests, Anthropometric Measurements, and Answers to a Respiratory Symptoms Questionnaire in Working Coal-miners

Ashford¹,

Forwell²,

Routledge³

1960

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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“…We also reported a higher prevalence of abnormal lung function parameters among cotton workers in comparison to controls that was in keeping with previous studies that reported a variety of respiratory disorders such as byssinosis and asthma. [11][12][13][14][15] We found that cotton industry workers had lower predicted FEV 1 % and FEV 1 /FVC values compared to a comparison group of office workers. These results were suggestive of impaired airway function and might be related to occupational exposure to cotton dust.…”

Section: R T I C L E a R T I C L Ementioning

confidence: 75%

Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function among Greek Cotton Industry Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anyfantis¹,

Rachiotis²,

Hadjichristodoulou³

et al. 2017

Int J Occup Environ Med

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“…Schilling and his colleagues undertook the first epidemiological studies in 1950s 1) . The raw cotton was carded and spun by machines that were not equipped with dust control devices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of byssinotic symptoms in cotton spinners and fiber preparers has been known for more than one hundred years. Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of byssinosis in the UK has been falling since the first systematic study undertaken in the 1950s by Schilling and his colleagues 1) . They found a rate of around 50% in workers in the dustiest parts of the cotton spinning processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Additive Effect of Smoking and Cotton Dust Exposure on Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Function of Cotton Textile Workers

Sheu

et al. 2003

INDUSTRIAL HEALTH

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One hundred and sixty-nine and 175 cotton textile workers (CTWs) were enrolled in the first (1991) and second (1996) surveys to investigate the prevalence of byssinosis. The synergistic effect of smoking on cotton dust exposure was also evaluated. Although the difference in prevalence of abnormal pulmonary function between the first (38.5%) and second study (38.9%) was not statistically significant, smokers had significantly higher frequency than nonsmokers in both surveys. A significant trend existed between the cotton dust levels and the frequency of abnormal lung function. The significant trend was also noted in both smokers and nonsmokers. The frequency of respiratory symptoms and the prevalence of severe byssinosis in the second survey (14.9% and 12.6%, respectively) were significantly lower than that in the first survey (39.7% and 21.9%, respectively). The reduction of symptoms was due to remodeling of this old cotton mill. The prevalences of respiratory symptoms and byssinosis in smokers being significantly higher than in nonsmokers only found in the first survey, but not found in the second survey. These results indicate that smoking potentiates the effect of cotton dust exposure on respiratory symptoms and byssinosis. The second study reveals high prevalence of byssinosis still existed in Taiwanese cotton mill, although the prevalence was declining. Smoking was found to show an additive effect on cotton dust exposure. Anti-smoking campaign, occupational health program to reduce the dust exposure, and periodical medical examination are measures to prevent from byssinosis.

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An Epidemiological Study of Byssinosis Among Lancashire Cotton Workers

Cited by 83 publications

References 12 publications

A Study of the Repeatability of Ventilatory Tests, Anthropometric Measurements, and Answers to a Respiratory Symptoms Questionnaire in Working Coal-miners

A Study of the Repeatability of Ventilatory Tests, Anthropometric Measurements, and Answers to a Respiratory Symptoms Questionnaire in Working Coal-miners

Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function among Greek Cotton Industry Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Additive Effect of Smoking and Cotton Dust Exposure on Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Function of Cotton Textile Workers

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