Reduced Cross-Shift Lung Function and Respiratory Symptoms among Integrated Textile Factory Workers in Ethiopia

Abstract

Chronic respiratory symptoms and reduction in lung function has been described as a common health problem among textile workers in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to measure lung function and respiratory symptoms among workers from an integrated textile factory. A comparative cross-sectional study design with a cross-shift lung function measurement was performed in 306 cotton dust exposed workers from an integrated textile factory and 156 control workers from a water bottling factory. An integrated textile factory typically has four main production departments (spinning, weaving, finishing, and garment) that process raw cotton and manufacture clothes or fabrics. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by adopting the standard American Thoracic Society questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic and linear regression analysis were used. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among textile workers (54%) than in controls (28%). Chronic cough, chest tightness, and breathlessness were significantly higher among textile workers (23%, 33%, and 37%, respectively) than in the control group (5%, 17% and 6%, respectively). Breathlessness was the most prevalent chronic respiratory symptom with highest adjusted odds ratio 9.4 (95% CI 4.4–20.3). A significantly higher cross-shift lung function reduction was observed among textile workers (123 mL for FEV1 and 129 mL for FVC) compared with the control group (14 mL for FEV1 and 12 mL for FVC). Thus, workers’ respiratory health protection programs should be strengthened in textile factories.

Assessment of Respiratory Dust Exposure and Lung Functions Among Workers in Textile Mill (Thamine), Myanmar: A Cross-sectional Study

“…This nding was also in line with the study conducted in India reported that cotton mill workers with > 5 years of dust exposure were more likely to have spirometric abnormality [28]. Consequently, the textile workers with long service duration and chronic exposure to dust were at high risk of developing chronic respiratory health problems [35]. However, the studies conducted in the same constitutions of Egypt and Nigeria showed that there was no correlation between spirometric functions and duration of exposure to dust in the current section among cotton textile workers [13,25].…”

Assessment of respiratory dust exposure and lung functions among workers in textile mill (Thamine), Myanmar: a cross-sectional study

“…This finding was also in line with the study conducted in India reported that cotton mill workers with > 5 years of dust exposure were more likely to have spirometric abnormality [ 29 ]. Consequently, the textile workers with long service duration and chronic exposure to dust were at high risk of developing chronic respiratory health problems [ 35 ]. However, the studies conducted in the same constitutions of Egypt and Nigeria showed that there was no correlation between spirometric functions and duration of exposure to dust in the current section among cotton textile workers [ 13 , 26 ].…”

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

“…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).…”