Respiratory disability in ex-flax workers.

Abstract

Acute respiratory effects occur in a high proportion of subjects exposed to textile dusts. The extent to which these lead to permanent respiratory symptoms and loss of lung function is unknown. A survey of random population samples was therefore conducted in ten towns in Northern Ireland in which flax processing had been a major source of employment. The MRC questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was administered and Vitalograph tracings recorded on subjects aged 40 to 74 inclusive. An occupational history was taken at the end of each interview. Lung function in ex-flax workers was slightly lower than in control subjects never exposed to flax dust, but the presence of a positive interaction with age meant that differences were apparent only in the younger subjects. Over about the age of 65 the lung function in the ex-flax workers was comparable with that of the controls and overall the loss was at most about half that due to light smoking (1-14 cigarettes a day). The association between a "dust exposure score" and lung function was inconsistent in the two sexes. In men there was a small decrement with increasing dust exposure. In women there was also a small decrement, but a positive interaction with age meant that the women with the highest dust exposure scores had a lower loss with increasing age than the women with the least dust exposure. There was an excess in symptoms in the ex-flax workers but the size of the excess was greater than would be expected from the lung function results. It is possible that, although the survey was conducted without explicit reference to the flax industry, knowledge throughout Northern Ireland that many flax workers have been awarded compensation on the grounds of respiratory disablement may have led to an increased reporting of symptoms in the ex-flax workers.For many years the processing of flax and the weaving of linen has been an important industry in Northern Ireland, second only to agriculture, but its future is at present uncertain.' On the one hand, the rise in the price of synthetic fibres, together with the development of new methods of processing flax and new uses for linen, could lead to an expansion of the industry at all stages, including the growing of the flax plant. On the other hand, claims that flax dust has harmed their health are being made by increasing numbers of workers and ex-workers and large settlements are being demanded in compensation. It is currently estimated that unsettled claims represent a total of at least £16m. Northern Ireland is an economically depressed area and the preservation of any industry is important.Several developments in the industry are of particu-

Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic literature review

“…Industry-or occupation-specific studies of organic/ biological dust Of the industry-or occupation-specific studies of organic/ biological dust exposure and COPD (table 3), nine (72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80) were cross-sectional and ten (81)(82)(83)(84)(85)(86)(87)(88)(89)(90) longitudinal with follow up-time between 1-20 years. A majority of the studies came from Europe (72-77, 79, 80, 85, 86, 88) and the US (82,83,89,90), with two each from China (81,84) and South Africa (78,87).…”

“…In eight of the studies (75,77,78,80,(86)(87)(88)(89), personal sampling technique was used to define the exposure; in one study (72), both personal and area-level sampling techniques were used, and in five studies (79,81,82,84,90), arealevel sampling techniques alone were used. The exposure was characterized by questionnaire in four studies (73,74,76,83), while in one study (85) employee records defined exposure. The spirometric criteria included were nonuniform.…”

Veterans at risk: the health effects of mustard gas and Lewisite

“…Bistera,[43][44][183][184][335][336][337][335][336][337]9 VA, see Department of Veterans Affairs "1" …”