BACKGROUNDOccupational health hazard is reported as the tenth leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe by the World Health Organization, (WHO). The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest threats in public health worldwide, killing around 6 million people a year. Beedi rolling is one of the most rampant occupations among housewives in coastal Karnataka as a means of livelihood. Beedi rollers are constantly exposed to the unburnt dust of tobacco, which has become one of the major and commonly found occupational hazards that has been neglected. Occurrence of respiratory disorders such chronic obstructive lung disease, occupational asthma has been reported. However, no protective measures are being taken to prevent health hazards due to tobacco. This study was done to evaluate the lung function tests in asymptomatic beedi rollers for early diagnosis of tobacco related lung disorders. We also wanted to evaluate the pulmonary function of the beedi rollers and create awareness about possibility of respiratory ailments due exposure of tobacco dust.
METHODSThis was a cross sectional comparative study. Controls were age and gender matched from the general population who were not exposed to any kind of tobacco smoke. The study included 66 beedi rollers in Mangalore. A community-based survey was done and lung function assessment using spirometry was done. Pulmonary function tests (PFT): Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of FVC (FEV1/FVC), using spirometer were calculated. Based on FEV1/FVC ratio patterns of respiratory impairment whether restrictive/obstructive/mixed is determined. Results were tabulated and statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. Mean, standard deviation and paired ttest were done to determine the significant difference between beedi workers and control subjects, and p values were calculated. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTSAmong 66 subjects, 51 were females and 15 were males. 15 had mild obstructive pattern (22.7%), 1 had mild restrictive pattern (1.5%) and rest 50 subjects had normal lung functioning.
CONCLUSIONSThere seems to be a linear involvement of lung functioning to duration of tobacco exposure, though the p value is statistically insignificant. Though people who were taken into study were asymptomatic at present, they will have higher risk of developing respiratory problems due to continuous tobacco exposure. Stringent labour rules should be enforced for safeguarding health of these people.