RESPIRATORY HEALTH EFFECTS OF COTTON INHALABLE DUST ON WORKERS IN THE GARMENT PROCESSING UNIT

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 garment factory workers selected with stratified random sampling technique to examine their lung impairment with respect to cotton dust. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC) and forced expiratory flow (FEF (25%-75%)) were obtained according to American Thoracic Society criteria. Exposure to cotton inhalable dust concentration was measured in accordance with National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health criteria. Mann Whitney U test was used for comparison among target groups and statistical significance of the study was set at p<0.05. Cough, phlegm and dyspnea was observed in 78%, 51% and 44% patients (workers) respectively. Personal exposure of the subjects to cotton inhalable dust was measured in stitching, button hall and special effect sections of the garment processing unit at mean dust levels of .603±.436 mg/m3, .446±.257 mg/m3 and .382±.174 mg/m3 respectively. The exposed group was categorized into three groups having normal, obstructive and restrictive pattern of disease. This study provided evidence for relationship between exposure to cotton dust and other respiratory impairments without any association to smoking.