Assessment of respiratory status among workers exposed to cotton dust at Arba Minch Textile Factory, Southern Ethiopia, 2017

Abstract

In many of the textile industries, workers are largely exposed to cotton dust, which can leave workers with respiratory disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate respiratory status of workers exposed to cotton dust in Arba Minch textile factory, Southern Ethiopia, 2017. A comparative cross sectional study was done and 51 workers exposed to cotton dust in the factory and 51 age and sex matched controls were investigated. Their lung function was measured with a pocket size digital Spirometer. A standardized questionnaire based on British Medical Research Council Questionnaire was used to assess respiratory system symptoms and use of personal protective devices. This study reveals that the percentage prevalence of cough, phlegm, wheeze, breathlessness and chest tightness was 64.7, 55, 39, 41 and 43% for exposed respondents, respectively and 25.5, 14, 8, 6 and 0% for control subjects, respectively. Lung function indices such as, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced mid expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75%) were higher in control respondents than in exposed respondents and the mean difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) and the mean difference of predicted percentage values of FVC and FEV1 between the groups was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). FEV1% was higher in the control group than in exposed group. Therefore, the factory management should provide personal protective devices (PPDs) to exposed employees and should train them.

Prevalence of obstructive lung patterns and actual spirometric result at different workplaces in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The FEF 25 %– 75 % (mid expiratory flow) indicates expiratory flow in the middle portion of the FVC and the function of the medium and smaller airways (L/s). The SMD of FEF 25 %– 75 % at 95% CI was −0.42 (−0.67,−0.17) and this shows a reduction of airway dimension in cases as compared to the controls 1,2,4,10,12,24 . One study shows there is insignificant change in cases as compared to the controls 9 (Figure 6).…”

“…Forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV 1 ): The Volume of air exhaled in the first second during an FVC effort was also measured in a litter (L), the SMD of FEV 1 at 95% CI was −0.54(−0.72,−0.36) in seven studies the FEV 1 showed a decreased FEV1 in cases as compared to the controls 1,2,4,13,14,22,24 . The SMD of FEV 1 of four studies 9–11,25 showed a decreased FEV 1 in cases as compared to controls, and two studies did not show a significant change in cases and controls 12,23 (Figure 5).…”

“…SMD of FVC, SMD of FEV 1 , SMD of FEF 25 %-75 %, and SMD of PEFR were significantly reduced in cases as compared to controls. 1,2,9,20,24,32,33 This may be due to the type of dust exposure that associated with the reduction of lung function like FEV 1 , FVC, and FEV 1 /FVC values. 4,10,12,13 The study finding in Pakistan and Sweden showed as there is significant reduction in mean values of FEV 1 and FVC which further corroborate our findings.…”

“…The SMD of FEF 25 %-75 % at 95% CI was −0.42 (−0.67,−0.17) and this shows a reduction of airway dimension in cases as compared to the controls. 1,2,4,10,12,24 One study shows there is insignificant change in cases as compared to the controls 9 (Figure 6).…”

“…In (Figure 4) seven studies showed the FVC was reduced in cases as compared to the controls. 1,2,4,13,14,22,24 Four studies showed moderately reduced FVC results in cases as compared to the controls [9][10][11]23 and two studies showed there was no significant change in FVC value in cases as compared to the controls 12,25 (Figure 4).…”