Sputum neutrophilia, on the other hand, may contribute to abnormal lung function, as neutrophil accumulation in the lung is a prominent feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Sputum eosinophilia, recorded in a large number of landfill workers, could partially explain cough because sputum eosinophil counts of 43% are usually associated with eosinophilic bronchitis, wheeze and chronic cough