[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.
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
C H
CH
Laraqui
A Alaoui
AA
Yazidi
T A
TA
Rahhali
C
C
Verger
A
A
Caubet
M
M
Ben Mallem
O
O
Laraqui
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