THE PATTERN OF LUNG FUNCTION ABNORMALITIES IN SMOKERS OF GINNING MILL WORKERS

Abstract

Background: The cotton mill workers have increased prevalence of both obstructive and restrictive lung functions compared with control studies. Smoking was found to be an important risk factor for byssinosis and duration of exposure to cotton dust has also been reported to associated with chronic bronchitis, cough, dyspnoea ,evaluate the relation between smoking and incidence of byssinosis in ginning mill workers. Aims and objectives: To determine chronic effects of long term exposure to cotton dust and to Respiratory symptoms in study group-200 ginning(cotton) mill workers. It is further divided into GROUP-I [130] Workers who exposed directly to the cotton dust. GROUP-II [70] Who are not directly exposed but working in other areas like office, watchman etc. Control group- [70] Non-Teaching staff members from BLDEU‟s Shri BM Patil Medical College , from the same socioeconomic group were taken. The various lung functions like FEV1[ml], FVC[ml], FEV1% and PEFR[lit/min] were measured by using Bendict‟s recording spirometry and asking questionnaires. GROUP-I [50] and GROUP-II [25] smokers were identified. Statistical analysis was done by „Z‟ test and ANOVA test was applied to calculate mean values in various groups. Results: We found [50] smokers in GROUP-I [130] and [25 ]from GROUP-II [70] .All the lung function parameters were significantly decreased in smokers when compared with non-smokers and controls. where P value is [P<0.05] Conclusion: The smokers are more prone to respiratory disorders and byssinosis compared to non-smokers who are working in ginning mill factory. The lung function parameters were also decreased in the smokers compared to non-smokers group.