title: [Frequency of respiratory symptoms in workers in traditional Arab bakeries].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory complaints are quite common among workers exposed to flour dust. As a rule, such symptoms are not recognized as work-related.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 111 male workers from about 20 traditional Arab bakeries in northern Israel was conducted during 2008. Data collection was performed utilizing a dedicated questionnaire with special emphasis on respiratory symptomatology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main findings were: as a rule, this is a relatively young group of workers. Most bakeries employ 3-5 workers who perform all the jobs involved (family business). The bakeries are usually a single room where all processes, including selling of the pitahs are performed in one common space. Over 50% of the workers are current smokers. About 45% of the workers indicate respiratory symptoms, moreso among current smokers. About 2/3 of the symptomatic workers believe that occupational exposure to flour dust is causally related to their symptoms, OR =14.9 [95% CI = 5.69-38.84).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings attest to the need to perform a large scale (and more quantitative) evaluation of this occupational sector, in order to better identify the major risk factors involved.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Haifa, Haifa.
authors.forename: Manar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schafa-Khatib
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D005433:Flour; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust