ORIGINAL PAPER
Byssinosis and COPD rates among factory workers manufacturing hemp and jute
1 1 | Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
(Pulmonary Diseases Department) |
2 | Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
(Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Diseases) |
3 | University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
(Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center) |
4 | Istanbul Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
(Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Interventional Bronchology) |
5 | Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
(Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health) |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Mukremin Er
Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Pulmonary Diseases Department, 06800 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Pulmonary Diseases Department, 06800 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(1):55–68
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
clinical occupational medicineoccupational allergy and asthmaoccupational diseases and work-related diseases, including asthma and rhinitis (case studies, diagnostics, prevention, risk factors)occupational health servicesaerosol and bioaerosol exposure health effectsbiological agents exposure health effectsoccupational and environmental risk factors of work-related diseases, with special regard to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseaseshuman biomarkers in occupational and environmental healthoccupational epidemiologyaerosol and bioaerosol exposurebiological agents at the workplacedust and mineral fibers exposureoccupational hygiene limits
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Prior studies have been performed on cotton textile plants throughout the world. This study was planned to
identify the rate of byssinosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in hemp and jute workers and those who
worked with both of them. Material and Methods: The study was realized in a factory which consecutively processed hemp
and jute. The study enrollment included 266 people, 164 of whom were active workers and 102 were retired. A questionnaire,
plain chest X-rays, physical examination and pulmonary function tests were performed. Dust levels were measured in
various sections of the factory during 8 h work shifts. Endotoxin levels of various quality hemp fibers and dusts were measured. Results: The rate of byssinosis (28.2%) was higher among the workers that who exposed to both jute and hemp dust.
The frequency of chronic bronchitis in retired workers who previously smoked was higher (20%) as compared to currently
smoking workers (17%). High dust levels were measured in some parts of the factory (mean (M) = 2.69 mg/m3). Working
in dense dust areas, active smoking, being older than 40 years of age, being an ex-smoker, and working in the factory for
a period exceeding 15 years were significantly associated with bronchitis and emphysema development. High endotoxin
levels were determined for fine hemp dust (605 EU/mg), coarse hemp dust (336 EU/mg) and poor quality hemp fibers
(114 EU/mg), whereas in fresh hemp stalks the level of endotoxin was determined to be lower (0.27 EU/mg). Conclusions: Because of high exposures to jute and hemp dusts that are associated with high byssinosis rates, personal protection and
environmental hygiene is crucial to prevention of byssinosis.
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