This study was conducted to investigate the prevalencernof byssinosis and ather respiratory conditions among 595 workersrn(322 male and 273 female) involved in dusty operations of a typicalrnEthiopian textile mill located in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. A respiratoryrnquestionnaire was administered and pre-and post-shift forcedrnvital capacity (F VC) and forced expiratory volume in one secondrn(FEV 7) were determined for each worker. Multiple area airrnsamples were analysed fUr , elutriated dust concentration (rangern- / 3 ..rn0.86-3.52 mg/m ) and personal sampling dust concentration (range:rn7.03 - 3.83mg/m 3 ) The case study groups and control groupsrnwere stratified by time weighted dust concentration and thenrncross-tabulated with respect to high and low cumulative dustrnexposure. The prevalence of byssinosis was assessed to bern43.2% among blowers and 37.5% in carders in comparison to 4rnto 24% among workers in other sections. Chronic bronchitisrnand bronchial asthma also occurred in the range of 77.6 torn47.7% and 8.5 to 20.5% respectively,rnx virnin all sections. Significant accrass- shift decrements in FEV 7rnand F VC were observed in the case study groups when comparedrnwith control group . The estimated relative risk of developingrnbyssinosis, bronchial osthma and chronic bronchitis accountablernto high cumulative dust ex posure were significant with an oddsrnratio of 27.76 , 5.72 and 3.64 than to low cumulative dustrnex posure . Significant dose-response relationship for pulmonaryrnfunction and respiratory illnesses models was also observed byrnregression analysis. The result of this study revealed thatrnthe prevalence of byssinosis and other respiratory illnessesrnwas very high in one of the mills processing raw cotton. Applicationsrnof proposed preventive measures and early detection of exposurerne ffects are expected to reduce the prevalence of byssinosis andrnother respiratory illnesses. Further research including a nationwidernsurvery is suggested in order to determine the magnitude ofrnthe problem nationwide. This study represents the first epidemiologicalrnstudy of the textile industry in Ethiopia using diagnostic criterionrnsimilar to those which are applied in developed countries, suchrnas the United States and Creat Britain. The study has alsornenhanced our knowledge end experience in integrating occupationalrnhealth and intersectoral co-opera tion into practical implementationrnof primary health care .