Assessment of Pulmonary Function Test among Cotton Textile Workers in Baghdad
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Very serious, irreversible changes in pulmonary function along with life threatening conditions associated with cotton exposure have been mentioned. The number of textile industries in Iraq with large work force is on the rise. Thus, there is a need to assess medical challenges of its workers, one of which is respiratory ailments. Although much has been written about the subject globally, only few studies have been done in Iraq.
Objective: To determine the main risk factors, prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and patterns of ventilatory defects.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of 200 employed workers in AL-Kadimiyah cotton textile mill in Baghdad from 1st of December 2013 till the end of March 2014. Information was collected through interview using modified American Thoracic Society standard respiratory symptoms questionnaire. Forced Expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio were measured using portable spirometer.
Results: From the studied sample, 148 (74%) workers showed normal pulmonary function test while 52 (26%) showed abnormal results. There were statistically significant relationship between measured and predicted values for forced expiratory volume in one second, and forced vital capacity (P<0.001). The highest percent of abnormal pulmonary function test were found in ginning and spinning departments (37.5% and 35%), respectively. Fifty eight (29%) have respiratory symptoms in which workers in ginning and carding departments are the most affected.
Conclusion: The effect of cotton dust on reduction forced expiratory volume in one second, and forced vital capacity among cotton textile workers in Baghdad. In addition workers exposed to cotton dust are more vulnerable to have respiratory symptoms than others. The prevalence of ventilatory defects was more in exposed workers than nonexposed to cotton dust.
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