SS61-02 WORK-RELATED ASTHMA OUTCOMES AND LUNG FUNCTION IN TANZANIAN SEAWEED HARVESTING AND PROCESSING WORKERS

Abstract

Work in seafood harvesting and processing has been associated with work-related allergy and asthma, caused by sensitizers or irritants. However, the prevalence of airways disease in workers handling seaweed has not been previously reported. A cross-sectional study involving 602 Zanzibari seaweed workers was conducted, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire accompanied by spirometry using a portable EasyOne spirometer according to ATS Guidelines. The mean age of this predominantly female (91%) study population was 50 years. Most of these workers (92%) used firewood for cooking, mainly indoors. Almost all workers were non-smokers and 9% had a family history of allergy. Workers were engaged in seaweed farming of Eucheuma spinosum species for an average period of 20 years. Ocular-nasal symptoms (44%) were more common than asthma-related symptoms, with 17% having an asthma symptom score ≥ 2. Work-related chest symptoms were present in 8% of workers, commonly ascribed to physical exertion as well as exposure to seaweed and dust particulate. Pulmonary function analysis (n=416) showed evidence of a high degree of airflow obstruction based on 18% of workers having an FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70 and 31% with an FEV1 less than the lower limit of normal (LLN). Airways disease and work-related asthma outcomes is common in Zanzibari seaweed farmers. While workers identified heavy manual work and handling seaweed as being responsible for their work-related symptoms, further research needs to focus on identifying the causative agents associated with these adverse respiratory health outcomes.