Effect of Flour Dust on Lung Volumes and Capacities in Flour Mill ...

<strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Flour</strong> <strong>Dust</strong> on Lung Volumes and Capacities in <strong>Flour</strong> Mill WorkersTable 2: Showing Mean, Standard Deviation, PValue With Statistical Significance Of RespiratoryParameters Between <strong>Flour</strong> Mill Workers AndControl GroupUnitsParameters<strong>Flour</strong> millworkers(n=15)ControlgroupP valueSignificanceM S.D. M S.D.Liters FVC 2.05 ±0.12 2.60 ±0.75 0.05 NSLiter/secPEFR 4.78 ±0.78 5.94 ±1.78 0.05 NS±17.3482.81±28.82>0.05 NSTable 3: Showing Mean, Standard Deviation, PValue With Statistical Significance Of RespiratoryParameters Between <strong>Flour</strong> Mill Workers With 0-5Years Of Exposure And Control GroupUnits Parameters <strong>Flour</strong> millworkers(n=15)ControlgroupPvalueSignificanceM S.D. M S.D.Liters FVC 1.89 ±0.06 2.60 ±0.75

<strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Flour</strong> <strong>Dust</strong> on Lung Volumes and Capacities in <strong>Flour</strong> Mill Workers<strong>of</strong> exposure ,in other words there is a doseexposure relationship 14,15 . Some previous studies 16also showed decrease in FEF25-75 as collaboratedby our study.Decrease in PEFR is highly significant in case <strong>of</strong> flourmill workers suggesting involvement <strong>of</strong> largerairways 17 .This may be due to hypertrophy <strong>of</strong>mucosal cells due to irritation by grain dustresulting in the increased secretion <strong>of</strong> mucouswhich causes obstruction to the exhaled air 18 .MVV also showed a highly significant decline inflour mill workers as compared to controls . Similarresults have also been reported in a previousstudy 19 also.MVV is considered to be a goodguideline <strong>of</strong> the mechanical efficiency <strong>of</strong> the lungs.So decreased values <strong>of</strong> MVV in flour mill workersindicates that grain dust causes decreasedmechanical efficiency <strong>of</strong> lungs 20 .The results <strong>of</strong> the present study support payingattention to working conditions in flour millworkers. To reduce or eliminate harmful effects <strong>of</strong>air-borne particles in various industries, spirometryshould be an integral part <strong>of</strong> a health careprogramme. Ideally the provision <strong>of</strong> appropriatemonitoring programmes in industry should be anintegral part <strong>of</strong> primary health care initiativesdeveloped for working place with growingindustrialization in India especially Punjab.Adequate control <strong>of</strong> exposure to flour andingredients dust should help to reduce theincidence <strong>of</strong> respiratory diseases in the flourindustry, which should be one <strong>of</strong> the objectives <strong>of</strong>occupational health. Periodic health check ups areequally important.Conclusion: Lung functions showed decreasedvalues in flour mill workers as compared to controls.Secondly all parameters decreased with increasingduration <strong>of</strong> exposure to flour dust.Acknowledgement: We Authors are grateful to theflour mill workers and control subjects whocooperated with us in completing this researchproject. We are also grateful to Mr.Surinder Singhfor helping us in the statistical analysis and a specialword <strong>of</strong> thanks for Mr. Balwinder Singh, owner <strong>of</strong>the flour mill.References:1. Oxman AD, Muir DCF, Shannon HS, Stock SR,Hnidzo E, Langi HJ. Occupational dust exposureand chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.American Review <strong>of</strong> RespiratoryDiseases 1993;148 : 38-48.2. Boyd W, Henly K, London. Text book <strong>of</strong>Pathology 1977; 721.3. Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Schachter EN, Godnic-CvarJ. Mustabegovic, J. and Budak, A. Respiratoryfunction and immunological status in cocoa andflour processing workers. Am. J. Ind. Med 1998;33(1): 24-32.4. Kolopp-Sarda MN, Massin N, Gobert B et al.Humoral immune responses <strong>of</strong> workersoccupationally exposed to wheat flour. Am J IndMed 1994; 26: 671-9.5. James JM, Sixbey JB, Helm RM et al. Wheat a-amylase inhibitor: A second route <strong>of</strong> allergicsensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997; 99:239-44.6. Burstyn I, Teschke K, Kennedy SM. Exposurelevels and determinants <strong>of</strong> inhalable dustexposure in bakeries. Ann Occup Hyg 1997;41:609–24.7. Bulat P, Myny K, Braeckman L et al. Exposure toinhalable dust, wheat flour and alpha-amylaseallergens in industrial and traditional bakeries.Ann Occup Hyg 2004; 48: 57–63.8. Elms J, Beckett P, Griffin P et al .Job categoriesand their effects on exposure to fungal alphaamylaseand inhalable dust in the UK bakingindustry. Am Ind Hyg Assn J 2003 ; 64: 467–71.9. Ross DJ, Keynes HL, McDonald JC. Surveillance <strong>of</strong>work-related and occupational respiratorydisease in the UK. Occup Med 1997; 47: 377–81.10. Jeffrey P, Griffin P, Gibson M et al. Smallbakeries-A cross-sectional study <strong>of</strong> respiratorysymptoms, sensitization and dust exposure.Occup Med 1999; 49: 237–41.11. Cotes JE. Lung function assessment andapplication in medicine. 4 th ed.BlackwellScientific Publications 1979 ; London.12. Morrison DC and Ulevitch RJ. The effects <strong>of</strong>bacterial endotoxins on host mediation systems.Am J Pathol 1978; 93: 527-617.13. Chan-Yeung M, Wong R and Maclean LC.Respiratory abnormalities among grain elevatorworkers. Chest 1979; 75: 461-467.NJIRM 2012; Vol. 3(2). April-June eISSN: 0975-9840 pISSN: 2230 - 9969 94

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