Summary
An epidemiological study of 774 workers in seven eastern France cotton textile factories was conducted to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory disorders. From nine non-textile companies, 464 workers, stratified as to sex, age and tabacco consumption participated in the study as a control population. A questionnaire designed to elicit the respiratory symptoms (in particular the Monday tightness characterizing byssinosis) was administred to the 1238 workers. Peak-expiratory-flow (PEF) measurement was made for each subject, exposed and non-exposed, before the start of the shift on the day of the worker's return to work and repeated at the end of the shift. The PEF's variations during the workshift were studied. Present Monday tightness was mentioned by 48 cotton exposed workers (6.2%) and by 9 non-exposed (1.9%) (P < 0.001). A 10% decrease in PEF during the shift was present in 63 cotton exposed workers (8.1%) and in 10 non-exposed (2.1%) (P< 0.001). For the exposed population, Monday tightness was analysed using multiple logistic regression, showing an absence of a link with smoking, an increased occurrence after 20 years of exposure (OR = 7.3) and a link with current job (more frequent among those with the dustiest jobs) (OR = 4.9). The multiple logistic analysis of a 10% decrease in PEF showed effects of smoking habits (OR =1.86). It also showed a link with “highly polluted job” history (OR = 2.7), but especially with present job (OR = 3.4). The absence of a constant link between Monday tightness and drop of the PEF was found.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awad Elkarim MA, Onsa SH (1987) Prevalence of byssinosis and respiratory symptoms among spinners in Sudanese cotton mills. Am J Ind Med 12:281–289
Beck GJ, Schachter EN, Maunder LR (1984) The relationship of respiratory symptoms and lung function loss in cotton textile workers. Am Rev Respir Dis 130:6–11
Belin L, Bouhuys A, Hoekstra W, Johansson MB, Lindell SE, Pool J (1965) Byssinosis in cardroom workers in swedish cotton mills. BR J Ind Med 22:101–108
Belleau R (1984) Etude sur la santé pulmonaire des travailleurs de l'usine Wabsso Inc. de Trois Rivières, Quebec: Centre Hospitalier Sainte Marie, 222 pp
Bouhuys A (1969) byssinosis in cotton textile workers. Respiratory survey of a mill with rapid labor turnover. Arch Intern Med 71:257–269
Bouhuys A (1976) Byssinosis: scheduled asthma in the textile industry. Lung 154:3–16
Christiani DC, Eisen EA, Wegman DH, Ye TT, Lu PL, Gong ZC, Dai HL (1986) Respiratory disease in cotton textile workers in the People's Republic of China: I. Respiratory symptoms. Scand J Work Environ Health 12:40–45
Cinkotai FF, Rigby A, Pickering CAC, Seaborn D, Faragher E (1988) Recent trends in the prevalence of byssinotic symptoms in the Lancashire textile industry. Br J Ind Med 45:782–789
Cinkotai FF, Seabborn D, Pickering CAC, Faragher E (1988) Airborne dust in the personal breathing zone and the prevalence of byssinotic symptoms in the Lancashire textile industry. Ann Occup Hyg 32:103–113
Cinkotai FF, Whitaker CJ (1978) Airborne bacteria and the prevalence of byssinotic symptoms in 21 cotton spinning mills in Lancashire. Ann Occup Hyg 21:239–250
El Batawi MA (1962) Byssinosis in the cotton industry in Egypt. Br J Ind Med 19:126–130
Field GB, Owen P (1979) Respiratory function in an Australian cotton mill. Bull Europ Physiopath Resp 15:455–468
Foa V, Zedda S, Cardani A, Marzoli C, Peruzzo G, Giobbi A, Vigliani EC (1975) Patologia da fibre tessili vegetali. Med Lavoro 66:527–572
Foa V, Zedda S, Cavagna G (1967) Significato e limite delle prove di funzionalita respiratoria nello studio della bissinosi. Indagine condotta in un cotonificio della lombardia. Med Lavoro 58:321–326
Gaffuri E, Costa G (1978) Ritmi circadiani degli indici spirometrici. Rev Inf Mal Prof 65:438–444
Haglind P, Rylander R (1984) Exposure to cotton dust in an experimental cardroom. Br J Ind Med 10:340–345
Hamilton JD, Halprin GM, Kilburn KH, Merchant JA, Ujda JR (1973) Differential aerosol challenge studies on byssinosis. Arch Environ Health 26:120–124
Imbus HR, Suh MW (1973) Byssinosis. A study of 10,133 textile workers. Arch Environ Health 26:183–191
Imbus HR, Suh MW (1974) Steaming of cotton of prevent byssinosis. A plant sudy. Br J Ind Med 31:209–219
Manicatide M, Nicolaescu V, Racoveanu C, Manicatide M, Nicolaescu V, Racoveanu C, Draghia A, Mincu P (1974) The wright peak flow meter; its reliability and pactical use. Rev Roum Med 12:19–28
Martin CF, Higgins JE (1976) Byssinosis and other respiratory ailments. A survey of 6,638 cotton textile employees. JOM 18:455–462
Molyneux MKG, Berry G (1968) The correlation of cotton dust exposure with the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. In: Proc II Int Conf Respiratory Diseases in Textile Workers. Alicante Spain, Vol II, 177–183
Noweir MH, Noweir KH, Osman HA, Moselhi M (1984) An environmental and medical study of byssinosis and other respiratory conditions in the cotton textile industry in Egypt. Am J Ind Med 6:173–183
Roach SA, Schilling RSF (1960) A clinical and environmental study of byssinosis in the Lancashire cotton industry. Br J Ind Med 17:1–9
Schilling RSF, Hughes JPW, Dingwall-Fordyce I, Gilson JC (1955) An epidemiological study of byssinosis among Lancashire cotton workers. Br J Ind Med 12:217–227
Schilling RSF, Vigliani EC, Lammers B, Valic F, Gilson JC (1963) A report of a conference of byssinosis in: Proc XIVth Int Congr Occupational Health, Madrid. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 137–145
Schilling RSF (1956) Byssinosis in cotton and other textile workers. Lancet 2:261–265
Schrag PE, Gullett AD (1970) Byssinosis in cotton mills. Am Rev Resp Dis 101:497–503
U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (1974) Criteria for a recommended standard ... occupational exposure to cotton dust. NIOSH 159 pp
Walford J, Lammers B, Schilling RSF, Van den Hoven van Genderen D, Van der Veen YG (1966) Diurnal variation in ventilatory capacity. An epidemiological study of cotton and other factory workers employed on shift work. Br J Ind Med 23:42–48
Zuskin E, Valic F, Bouhuys A (1976) Byssinosis and airway responses due to exposure to textile dust. Lung 154:17–24
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Massin, N., Moulin, JJ., Wild, P. et al. A study of the prevalence of acute respiratory disorders among workers in the textile industry. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 62, 555–560 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381108
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381108