A Comparative Study Of Pulmonary Functions Among Flour Mill Workers And Normal Subjects In Fafa Food S.c.

Flour dust is a hazardous substance with respiratory sensitizing properties. Its long- termrnexposure may cause a variety of clinical manifestations, impairment of lung function andrnchronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. A comparative cross-sectional study was undertakenrnat Fafa Food S.C. in order to: (1) evaluate the respiratory functional status of exposed andrnunexposed subjects, (2) determine the prevalence of occupational respiratory diseases amongrnexposed and unexposed workers, (3) describe the effects of flour dust exposure in inducingrnrespiratory symptoms and changes in lung function indices and (4) compare the respiratoryrnfunctional status and occupational respiratory diseases between exposed and unexposedrnworkers. The study population was composed of two groups: the study group consisting of fiftyrnsix exposed flour mill workers from the production units of the factory and the control grouprncontaining fifty six age and sex matched unexposed workers from non production units of thernfactory. The total sample size was 112. The results indicated that the highest mean dustrnconcentration (21.29 ± 0.20 mg/mrn3rn) was recorded in packing department. Among exposed andrnunexposed workers, the most prevalent symptom was chronic cough with 30 (53.6 %)and 10rn(17.9%) cases respectively. Odds ratio was highest (20.5) in packing department. Relativernrisk was highest (3.4) for bronchial asthma. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) reductions inrnFVC, FEVrn1,rnFEVrn1rn% and FEFrnwere observed among exposed subjects in cleaning andrnmixing departments in males and females. Eighteen (32.1 %) and 14 (25.0 %) exposedrnsubjects had mild airway obstruction and mild airway restriction respectively. The studyrnrevealed a significant level of dust exposure across production departments of the foodrncompany. The study showed a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and reduced lungrnfunction indices among exposed workers when compared with unexposed subjects.rn25- 75%rnImproving ventilation, replacing old technology with up-to-date process technology, use ofrnpersonal protective equipment, undergoing pre-employment and periodic medical surveillancerntests, early treatment, improving the level of knowledge of flour mill workers and regularrnmonitoring of flour dust exposure in the company are recommended.

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