Respiratory function and immunological reactions in jute workers.
A prospective study of respiratory function was performed in a group of 70 jute and 40 control workers. At the initial study there were consistently higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms in jute workers compared to control workers; however, the differences were statistically significant only for dyspnea (P < 0.05). At the follow-up study 19 out of the original 70 jute workers were examined 19 years later. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms among these workers. Similar across-shift reductions of forced vital capacity (FVC) and the 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were recorded on Monday and the following Thursday at the initial study. In the 19 jute workers followed prospectively there were similar across-shift reductions of FVC and FEV1 at the first and the follow-up study, the reduction being slightly larger for FEV1 than for FVC. Only one jute worker (5.3%) and two control workers (5.7%) responded to skin testing with specific textile extracts. Two workers developed symptoms of occupational asthma. One of these workers had a positive response to skin testing with jute extract. Our data suggest that exposure to jute dust may cause the development of chronic respiratory symptoms in some workers.
Zuskin
E
E
Andrija Stamper School of Public Health, Zagrab, Coratia.
Kanceljak
B
B
Mustajbegovic
J
J
Schachter
E N
EN
Kern
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017523:Croatia; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013784:Textiles; D014797:Vital Capacity
D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E