[The prevalence of respiratory symptomes and immediate hypersensitivity reactions in a population exposed to flour and cereal dust in five flour mills in Morocco].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, ventilatory function disorder and immediate hypersensitivity reactions in a population exposed to flour and cereal dusts in five flour mills in Morocco.


METHODS
The study of 373 exposed and 301 non-exposed subjects consisted of an analysis of working conditions and a medical survey.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of clinical respiratory symptoms was 64.1% among exposed subjects and 41.2% among non-exposed subjects. Cough, expectoration, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, asthma and chronic bronchitis were more frequent among mill-workers. Spirometry was abnormal in 31.6% of those exposed: anomalies were found in both flow and volume. Among exposed subjects with a ventilatory disorder, 77.9% had only small airways syndrome or a light deficit. Smoking was the cause of excess morbidity. Skin prick tests were positive for at least one allergen in 65.4% of exposed compared to 27.2% non-exposed subjects. The prevalence of positive skin tests to occupational allergens alone was higher among those exposed (42.4%) than among the non-exposed (9.9%). The implementation of adequate medical and technical prevention may reduce this risk.
Laraqui
C H
CH
Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sécurité et Sante au Travail, Faculté des Sciences de l'Education de Rabat, Rabat, France. tecnolec@atlasnet.net.ma
Yazidi
A Alaoui
AA
Rahhali
T A
TA
Verger
C
C
Caubet
A
A
Ben Mallem
M
M
Laraqui
O
O
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004391:Dust; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010328:Patch Tests; D011336:Probability; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
D004391:Dust