Respiratory and allergic disorders in workers exposed to grain and flour dusts.
Symptoms suggestive of chronic bronchitis or chronic productive cough were found in 29.0% of 100 workers exposed to flour dust in a flour mill, 26.0% presenting with chronic cough and 29.0% with phlegm. In the control group, the prevalence of chronic cough and phlegm was only 6.6% in each category. While 22.0% of the workers complained of chest tightness on exposure, and 18.0% developed symptoms and signs of bronchial asthma, only 3.3% of the controls complained of chest tightness and 3.3% of asthma. Respiratory measurements before and after the working shift showed a significant drop (p less than .001) in the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in the exposed group. Fifty-eight percent of the exposed workers experienced a drop in FEV1.0 and FVC measurements. A positive skin reaction to wheat flour extract was recorded among 31% of the exposed workers vs. 10% of the controls. The prevalence of other associated allergic symptoms was 17.0% and 19.0% for sinusitis and conjunctivitis, respectively; in the unexposed group, the prevalence of the same symptoms ranged between 3.3% and 6.6%. A strong association was revealed between exposure to grain and flour dusts and the prevalence of respiratory and allergic disorders.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D004391:Dust; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014797:Vital Capacity
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust