BackgroundGender related differences in respiratory disease have been documented. The aim of this study was to investigate gender related differences in respiratory findings by occupation. We analyzed data from 12 of our previously published studies.MethodsThree thousand and eleven (3011) workers employed in "organic dust" industries (1379 female and 1632 male) were studied. A control group of 806 workers not exposed to any kind of dust were also investigated (male = 419, female = 387). Acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function were measured. The weighted average method and the Mantel-Haentszel method were used to calculate the odds ratios of symptoms. Hedge's unbiased estimations were used to measure lung function differences between men and women.ResultsThere were high prevalences of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms in all the "dusty" studied groups compared to controls. Significantly less chronic cough, chronic phlegm as well as chronic bronchitis were found among women than among men after the adjustments for smoking, age and duration of employment. Upper respiratory tract symptoms by contrast were more frequent in women than in men in these groups. Significant gender related lung function differences occurred in the textile industry but not in the food processing industry or among farmers.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that in industries processing organic compounds there are gender differences in respiratory symptoms and lung function in exposed workers. Whether these findings represent true physiologic gender differences, gender specific workplace exposures or other undefined gender variables not defined in this study cannot be determined. These data do not suggest that special limitations for women are warranted for respiratory health reasons in these industries, but the issue of upper respiratory irritation and disease warrants further study.

Respiratory symptoms and abnormalities of lung function were studied in 84 female and 27 male hemp workers employed in two textile mills (A and B) processing soft hemp (C sativa). In mill A 46 women and 27 men were investigated and 38 female workers were studied in mill B. Forty nine women and 30 men from a non-dusty industry served as controls. A significantly higher prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was found in female hemp workers when compared to control workers. Among the men these differences were significant for nasal catarrh and sinusitis. A high prevalence of byssinosis was found among female hemp workers in both mills (group A, 47-8%; group B, 57-9%) as well as in the male workers (66 7%). Statistically significant across shift reductions in lung function were found for all ventilatory capacity measurements in female and male hemp workers varying from 7-1% for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV,) to 15-1% for flow rates at 50% vital capacity (FEF,4). Measured Monday baseline values before the work shift were significantly lower than expected for hemp workers, being particularly reduced for FEF,, and FEF5,. The data suggest that occupational exposure to hemp dust is a significant risk factor for the development of acute and chronic lung disease in workers employed in this textile industry.In the early 18th century Ramazzini' recognised that hemp workers suffer from asthmatic symptoms due to occupational exposure to dust. More recently an asthma-like disease among hemp workers was

Our data suggest that firefighters are at risk for developing acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as obstructive airway changes.

We studied 233 male workers employed in two brick-manufacturing plants and 149 matched control workers. The mean age of the brick workers was 35 years, with a mean duration of employment in this industry of 16 years. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms as well as acute symptoms during the work shift were recorded. Lung function was measured on Monday during the work shift by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves, from which the forced vital capacity (FVC), the one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and flow rates at 50% and the last 75% of the FVC (FEF50, FEF75) were measured. The results of periodic chest roentgenograms were reviewed. There was a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough (31.8%), chronic phlegm (26.2%), and chest tightness (24.0%) in exposed workers, compared with control workers (20.1%; 18.1%; 0%) (P < 0.05). This increased symptom frequency was also documented among nonsmokers studied by age and by length of employment, suggesting a work-related effect. Among work shift-related symptoms, high prevalences were noted for upper respiratory tract symptoms (e.g., dry throat, eye irritation, throat irritation). The measured FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower than predicted for brick workers and suggested a restrictive pattern. The mean FVC (as a percent of predicted) was 78.1% and FEV1 was 88.1%. The FEF50 and FEF25 were not significantly decreased. A multiple regression analysis with age, exposure, and smoking as predictors and lung function parameters as response variables showed a significant effect between exposure and FVC. Significant chest roentgenographic abnormalities were not documented. These findings of a restrictive lung function pattern in brick workers with normal chest roentgenograms may suggest early interstitial disease. Additionally, a bronchitic component, as suggested by the respiratory symptoms, may also be present.

No abstract

Respiratory function was studied in three groups of workers employed in processing coffee. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in coffee processors than in control workers. In each group during the Monday work shift there was a significant mean acute decrease in the maximum expiratory flow rate at 50 % vital capacity (VC), ranging from 4-0 % to ,, and at 25 % VC, ranging from 60 '/ to 18-5 %. Acute reductions in FEV1.0 were considerably lower, ranging from 1-3 % to 2-8 %. On (Figley and Rawling, 1950;Bruun, 1957;Kaye and Freedman, 1961;Layton et al., 1965;Turula et al., 1966; Van Toom, 1970; Somazzi and Wiutrich, 1975). However, there have been no epidemiological studies of lung function in a population occupationally exposed to coffee. We have studied two groups of workers employed in the processing of (a) roasted and (b) green coffee, with particular reference to acute and chronic changes of lung function. Subjects and methods THE PROCESSGreen coffee This involves manual unloading of bags of green coffee, manual emptying of bags into a pneumatic transport system, and packing of green coffee.Roasted coffee Workers are involved in the roasting of coffee, grinding of roasted coffee, and in manual and mechanical packing. Received for publication 18 November 1977 Accepted for publication 10 November 1978 SUBJECTSThe study groups included 72 processors of roasted coffee (51 women and 21 men) and 31 processors of green coffee (women only) representing 94% of all the workers employed. Female workers were nonsmokers. Male workers were all smokers (average 20 cigarettes daily). In addition, 103 workers employed in the production of soft drinks, matching coffee workers in age, height, and smoking habits, were studied as controls (82 women and 21 men). The mean age and duration of employment of subjects in processing of coffee are shown in Table 1. DEFINITIONSThe British Medical Research Council Committee Questionnaire (Medical Research Council, 1960) was used to assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms. Chronic cough and/or phlegm were defined as cough and/or phlegm production on most days for at least three months per year. Chronic bronchitis described cough and phlegm for a minimum of three months in the year and for not less than two successive years. Dyspnoea was graded as follows: 3 = shortness of breath when walking with other people at an ordinary pace on the level; 4 = shortness of breath when walking at own pace on the level.

A follow-up study of respiratory function in cotton textile workers was performed 10 yr after the original cross-sectional study (1975 to 1985). There were 35 nonsmoking female and 31 smoking male textile workers restudied from the original group of 116. The majority of those lost to follow-up had left the industry. The prevalence of byssinosis among the female workers at the time of follow-up was 15/35 (42.9%) compared with 8/35 (22.9%) at the time of the initial study (p = 0.063). For men the byssinosis prevalence at follow-up was 16/31 (51.6%) compared with 8/31 (22.9%) at the time of the initial study (p = 0.03). Similarly, the prevalence of almost all other respiratory symptoms was significantly higher at the follow-up than at the time of the initial study. Significant across-shift decrements in FEV1 and FVC were documented at both surveys. The mean annual decline in ventilatory capacity was greater than expected for both female (FVC: -0.036 +/- 0.005 L/yr; FEV1: -0.059 +/- 0.009 L/yr) and male workers (FVC: -0.059 +/- 0.008 L/yr; FEV1: -0.068 +/- 0.006 L/yr) (Mean +/- SE). The mean total airborne dust concentration measured at the time of the follow-up study was 3.95 mg/m3 with an average respirable dust concentration of 0.97 mg/m3. We conclude that continued exposure to high dust concentrations in the cotton textile industry is associated with an increasing prevalence of respiratory symptoms and progressive impairment of lung function. The increase in respiratory impairment was seen both in smokers and nonsmokers.

Exposure to aerosols of organic dusts such as coffee, tea, spices, soy, fur, and animal food in an occupational setting can affect the respiratory health of industrial workers. Based on our experience with workers from many small industries processing organic materials, we discuss the clinical features and possible mechanisms responsible for the respiratory impairment associated with these types of dust exposure. Significantly higher prevalences for most chronic respiratory symptoms were found among exposed workers than among control workers. Smoking appears to aggravate these symptoms. A large number of exposed workers complained of acute symptoms which developed during the work shift. In exposed workers, significant across-shift reductions in lung function were recorded for all spirometric tests, but particularly for the flow rates at 50% and 25% of vital capacity on maximum expiratory flow-volume curves. Comparison of preshift measured ventilatory capacity tests with predicted normal values indicates that these workers demonstrate obstructive changes affecting primarily flow rate at low lung volumes. The data suggest that exposure to organic aerosols in industrial settings, particularly in conjunction with smoking, may be associated with the development of chronic obstructive lung disease.