Byssinosis, respiratory symptoms and spirometric lung function tests in Tanzanian sisal workers

Abstract

Byssinosis and other respiratory symptoms and acute and chronic changes in FVC and FEVy.o were investigated in 77 workers in sisal spinning and 83 workers in sisal brushing departments in six Tanzanian sisal factories. Although the prevalence of byssinosis in spinning departments was found to be low (5.2 %), it was very high in brushing departments (48.2 %). Workers in brushing were exposed to sisal dust for a significantly longer period (I177 + 7.3 years) compared to workers exposed to sisal in spinning (2-85 + 2 56 years). Although the number of smokers in brushing (42 %) was similar to that in spinning (37 %), smokers were more prone to byssinosis than were non-or ex-smokers after standardisation for duration of exposure. We were unable to measure dust levels in this study, but dust levels in spinning and brushing are cited from previous studies. These confirm our impression that the dust level in spinning is higher than that in an average cotton carding department and far higher in brushing than in spinning. Acute falls in FVC and FEV1. o were found during the work shift. The extent of the fall in FEy1 0 correlated well with the severity of byssinosis; 75 % of the workers with grade II byssinosis and 33 % of those with grade i + I were found to have acute falls in FEVY o greater than 0-2 litres. However some workers, 10 % in spinning and 33 % in brushing, who denied symptoms of byssinosis, were also found to have acute falls in FE1.o. Some workers had slight or severe chronic ventilatory impairment from dust (FEV1.o less than 80 %, or less than 60 % of the respective predicted values), and these workers were mostly from the brushing department. The prevalence of chronic cough and chronic bronchitis was found to be negligible in workers in the spinning and in the brushing departments: 9-6% had a chronic cough and 12% had chronic bronchitis. It is concluded that a high prevalence of byssinosis associated with chronic and acute changes in FVC and FEy1.o occurs in the brushing departments of sisal factories, and that this is related to lengthy exposure, high dust level and smoking.

Respiratory symptoms and lung function in wool textile workers

“…The across-shift reductions were similar in women and men and varied from 0.6-4.0% for FVC, from 1.0-4.9% for FEV,, from 1.7-9.1% for FEFsO and from 2.3433% for FEF,,. The magnitude of these reductions was similar to the across-shift changes seen in cotton, jute, and sisal workers Ghawabi, 1978;Mustafa et al, 1978;Velvart, 19721, but was less than those seen with hemp or flax workers Zuskin, 1971, 1972;Zuskin et al, 19901. Such across-shift declines in otherwise healthy workers suggest an acute irritative effect of wool dust in airways since normal diurnal variation is associated with daytime improvement in lung function.…”

Acute respiratory symptoms among sisal workers in Tanzania

“…This is in agreement with a study in Croatia [10]. In our study, workers in the brushing departments had the highest prevalence of acute symptoms which is in agreement with the findings of Mustafa et al [7]. Low prevalence of byssinosis which is considered to be among chronic obstructive respiratory diseases was found in two other studies among sisal workers, but these also reported low dust levels [5,6].…”

“…The demand for sisal is increasing due to increased awareness of the benefits of natural fibres, development of new sisal products and power generation [3,4]. Little is known on respiratory effects among sisal workers, but a few studies have shown higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms among these workers [5][6][7]. No recent studies have been performed among sisal workers in Tanzania.…”

Air Pollution Related to Traffic and Chronic Respiratory Diseases (Asthma and COPD) in Africa

“…However, the role of air pollution in the occurrence of COPD remains to be demonstrated [5]. In Africa, most prevalence studies of COPD have been conducted on specific groups of the population: miners, farmers or workers in industrial areas and also in hospital patients [38]- [43]. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis among no-exposed workers varied between 3.5% and 17% [39] [40] [41] and was always higher among exposed workers (4.1% to 38.5%) [38]- [43].…”

“…In Africa, most prevalence studies of COPD have been conducted on specific groups of the population: miners, farmers or workers in industrial areas and also in hospital patients [38]- [43]. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis among no-exposed workers varied between 3.5% and 17% [39] [40] [41] and was always higher among exposed workers (4.1% to 38.5%) [38]- [43]. In Africa, the proportion of patients with COPD varies from country to country, from 2.7% in pneumology services in Conakry to 14% in specialized hospitals in pneumology in Morocco [27] [48].…”