Abstract
Background: In India, 1.83 million people are suffering from occupational diseases contributing to 20% of the global burden. Prevalence of respiratory impairment amongst beedi workers in India is 23.5%. Prolonged exposure to low levels of tobacco dust may lead to respiratory impairment thereby affecting the lung functions. Hence, this Cross sectional study was conducted. Objective: To evaluate the pulmonary functions (PFT) of beedi workers and to assess the gender variation and the association of duration of exposure to tobacco dust. Methods: This cross sectional study included Beedi rolling workers (n=182) from different areas of Salem and Dharmapuri exposed to raw tobacco. Both sexes of age 20 to 50 years and who were involved in beedi rolling for at least for >2yrs were included in the study. Data were collected with a self administered questionnaire, and with a flow volume spirometry. Pulmonary function test was done and bronchodilator reversibility was done to arrive at a diagnosis. Data was analysed using SPSS software 18.0. Results: The tobacco workers tended to have a low forced vital capacity (FVC), and they had impaired Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and lower means of the maximal expiratory flow at 25% of the FVC significantly. Point prevalence of pulmonary functions revealed combination of obstructive (16%), restrictive (7%), and mixed (10%) disorders. Tobacco workers exposed to tobacco dust for longer duration (>11 years) had significant reduction of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Conclusion: This study shows respiratory impairment amongst beedi workers who are exposed to tobacco dust which emphasise on strict preventive measures to be adopted.
Highlights
Beedi making is the one of the largest small scale industry in India giving employment to millions of men, women and children of the lower socio-economic strata, primarily dominated by home workers.A beedi is a thin South Asian cigarette made of 0.2-0.3 g of tobacco flake wrapped in a tendu (Diospyrox melanoxylon) leaf and secured with thread at both ends
This study conducted in beedi making workers of selected districts of Tamilnadu exposed to tobacco dust and flakes at the work place, has shown significant decline in the pulmonary functions of these workers with increasing years of exposure
Studies have shown that tobacco workers exposed to tobacco dust for longer duration (>11 years) had significant reduction of lung functions
Summary
Beedi making is the one of the largest small scale industry in India giving employment to millions of men, women and children of the lower socio-economic strata, primarily dominated by home workers.A beedi is a thin South Asian cigarette made of 0.2-0.3 g of tobacco flake wrapped in a tendu (Diospyrox melanoxylon) leaf and secured with thread at both ends. As per Tobacco Institute of India1, 3s5 million people are involved in tobacco industry which includes 6 million farmers, 20 million farm workers, 4.4 million beedi workers, 2.2 million tendu leaf pluckers and 2 million traders. Prolonged exposure to low levels of tobacco dust may lead to respiratory impairment thereby affecting the lung functions. Methods: This cross sectional study included Beedi rolling workers (n=182) from different areas of Salem and Dharmapuri exposed to raw tobacco. Both sexes of age 20 to 50 years and who were involved in beedi rolling for at least for >2yrs were included in the study.
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