1. Environ Health Prev Med. 2014 May;19(3):226-33. doi: 10.1007/s12199-014-0384-8.
Epub 2014 Mar 8.
Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disorders among rice mill workers in
India.
Ghosh T(1), Gangopadhyay S, Das B.
Author information:
(1)Department of Physiology, Maitri College of Dentistry & Research Center,
Anjora, Durg, Chhattisgarh, India,
[email protected].
OBJECTIVES: Lung function tests have become an integral part of assessment of
pulmonary disease. Diseases of the respiratory system induced by occupational
dusts are influenced by the duration of exposure. The aim of the study is to
investigate the impairment of lung function and prevalence of respiratory
symptoms among the rice mill workers.
METHODS: A total of 120 rice mill workers from three districts of Karnataka were
included in this study. Fifty urban dwellers from the same socio-economic level
were selected as controls. The study included clinical examination, assessment of
respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function test, measurement of peak expiratory
flow rate, absolute eosinophil count, ESR estimation, total IgE estimation and
radiographic test.
RESULTS: The present study has shown that the rice mill workers complained of
several types of respiratory disorders like phlegm (40.8 %), dyspnea (44.2 %),
chest tightness (26.7 %), cough (21.7 %), and nose irritation (27.5 %). Rice mill
workers exposed to dust presented significantly (p