title: Cotton dust exposure: Analysis of pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cotton industry workers are exposed to various hazards in the different departments of textile factories. The major health problems associated with cotton dust are respiratory problems, byssinosis, bronchitis and asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of cotton dust exposure on pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at cotton mill in the Ahmedabad city.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred cotton mill workers of the weaving and spinning area participated in this study while 100 age- and gender-matched male subjects living in the residential area served as the control group. A questionnaire was used to inquire about respiratory symptoms and spirometry was done in both the groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Student'st-test was used to find the difference between spirometric parameters, and Chi-square test was used to find the difference between respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respiratory symptoms were statistically significantly more common in the cotton mill workers compared to control group. Cotton mill workers group also showed significant (P< 0.0001) decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), ratio of FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow rate, and no significant difference of FVC between groups. There was an association of duration of exposure and symptoms with spirometric abnormality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cotton mill workers showed a significant decrease in spirometric parameters and increase in respiratory symptoms. As the duration of exposure and symptoms increased, spirometric abnormality increased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Government Spine Institute and Physiotherapy College, Civil Hospital Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Bharat M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Dangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Government Spine Institute and Physiotherapy College, Civil Hospital Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Anjali R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bhise
keywords: Cotton dust; pulmonary function; respiratory symptoms