The health and economic burden of dust pollution in the textile industry of Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Background Exposure to dust in textile mills adversely affects workers’ health. We collected epidemiological data on textile workers suffering from respiratory diseases and assessed work absence associated with illnesses in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Methods We recruited 206 workers using multistage sampling from 11 spinning mills in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The data were collected using 2-week health diaries and face-to-face interviews. The data pertains to socio-demographics, occupational exposures, the state of the workers’ health, and other attributes. A theoretical framework of the health production function was used to estimate the relationship between cotton dust exposure and respiratory illnesses. We also estimated functional limitations (e.g., work absence) associated with dust exposure. STATA 12 was used to calculate descriptive statistics, an ordered probit for byssinosis, a probit model for chronic cough, and three complementary log-log models for blood phlegm, bronchitis, and asthma to measure dose–response functions. A Tobit model was used to measure the sickness absence function. Results We found that cotton dust exposure causes a significant health burden to workers, such as cough (35%), bronchitis (17%), and different grades of byssinosis symptoms (22%). The regression analysis showed that smoking cigarettes and working in dusty sections were the main determinants of respiratory diseases. Dusty work sections also cause illness-related work absences. However, the probability of work absence decreases with the increased use of face masks. Conclusion The study’s findings imply the significance of promoting occupational safety and health culture through training and awareness among workers or implementing the use of safety gadgets. Promulgating appropriate dust standards in textile mills is also a need of the hour.