Industrial hygiene, occupational safety and respiratory symptoms in the Pakistani cotton industry

Abstract

ObjectivesIn the cotton industry of Pakistan, 15 million people are employed and exposed to cotton dust, toxic chemicals, noise and physical hazards. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of health symptoms, particularly respiratory symptoms, and to measure cotton dust and endotoxin levels in different textile factories of Faisalabad, Pakistan.MethodsA cross-sectional investigation was performed in a representative sample of 47 cotton factories in the Faisalabad region in Punjab, Pakistan. Respiratory symptoms of 800 workers were documented by questionnaire. Occupational safety in the factories was assessed by a trained expert following a checklist, and dust and endotoxin levels in different work areas were measured.ResultsPrevalence of respiratory disease symptoms (fever, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough) was generally high and highest in the weaving section of the cotton industry (20–40% depending on symptoms). This section also displayed the poorest occupational safety ratings and the highest levels of inhalable cotton dust (mean±SD 4.6±2.5 vs 0.95±0.65 mg/m3 in compact units). In contrast, endotoxin levels were highest in the spinning section (median 1521 EU/m3), where high humidity is maintained.ConclusionsThere are still poor working conditions in the cotton industry in Pakistan where workers are exposed to different occupational hazards. More health symptoms were reported from small weaving factories (power looms). There is a dire need for improvements in occupational health and safety in this industrial sector with particular focus on power looms.

Diminished pulmonary function in long-term workers exposed to cotton dust determined in a cross-sectional study in small Pakistani enterprises

“…Periodical medical check-ups, use of personal protective measures (eg, wearing masks) and proper ventilation and suction at workplaces are recommended,32 33 39 in order to reduce the harmful effects on respiratory health.…”

Diseases Registered Among Integrated Textile Factory Workers in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

“…The textile department workers had higher prevalence than the other workers for many diseases; for instance, respiratory diseases. Several other studies have also showed high prevalence of respiratory problems among the textile department workers (7,16). An exposure assessment study by (19) has measured higher dust exposure level among the textile production workers and the garment department workers in Ethiopia than the recommended threshold limit value in the ACGIH (26).…”

“…Since early 1900, the main research regarding work and health in the textile and garment industry has been focused on the respiratory disease, byssinosis (4). Several studies have indicated that processing raw cotton to clothing generates inhalable dust and endotoxin that might cause respiratory problem (5)(6)(7). However, the work processes in textile and garment production expose workers not only to dust but also to other different hazards (8,9).…”

Endocrine hygiene

“…[ 6 ] Occupational hygiene and industrial hygiene includes within their ambit, multifaceted coverage of workers’ health, and are the subject of current research. [ 7 ] Information hygiene is another newly developed field of scientific study. [ 8 ]…”