Occupational dust exposure and lung functions of steel industry workers in Tamilnadu – a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND Occupational conditions are deadly health hazards especially where dust exposure is inevitable causing chronic disabilities, impaired respiratory function and ultimately leading to death if no intensive measures are put in place. Unhealthy practices and negative attitudes rise in the number of cases of pneumoconiosis due to poor health education and awareness strategies. Pneumoconiosis is not only a health problem but also a social and economic burden on the livelihood of people living in mining areas around the globe. OBJECTIVE to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of miners and post-occupational miners towards pneumoconiosis in Wusakile Township, Kitwe, Zambia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was employed to conduct a research in Wusakile Township and a questionnaire was customized in order to syphon data relevant to the study as well to be brief. The study was conducted among 73 participants who were randomly selected among miners and post-occupational miners and all satisfied the inclusion criteria. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. The data was entered and analysed using IBM SPSS software version 23. RESULTS Among 73 participants interviewed, 33.99% of participants had poor knowledge on the complications of pneumoconiosis. However, despite this poor knowledge, all participants had an idea about pneumoconiosis particularly silicosis. 13.70% of the respondents had bad practices towards pneumoconiosis while 86.30% had some good practices towards pneumoconiosis. Of the total participants, 19.18% of the participants had a negative attitude towards pneumoconiosis. Correlation between the level of education and practices of participants using Pearson Chi-Square, a p value of 0.021 (significant) was found ruling out the null hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS Information about pneumoconiosis and awareness programs towards pneumoconiosis are not widely disseminated among miners and post-occupational miners. There is still a significant number of participants who need to be educated more about pneumoconiosis and its complications so that attitude and practices are improved and also promote full community participation by involving competent health professionals to help in implementing preventive measures.

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Effects of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking on the Spirometric Profile of University Students in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Canadian Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1155/2020/5949834 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Zaher Nazzal ◽

Deema Odeh ◽

Fatima Azahraa Haddad ◽

Mohammad Berawi ◽

Belal Rahhal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

University Students ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Waterpipe Smoking ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lung Functions ◽

Expiratory Flow

Background. Waterpipe smoking in young individuals is increasing with limited studies addressing its respiratory health effects. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of waterpipe smoking on young adults’ lung functions. Spirometric parameters were compared between waterpipe smokers and nonsmokers. Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study of university students, including males and females, was conducted. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to record students’ characteristics. The spirometry test was performed to assess students’ lung functions; we recorded the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75%). Results. A total of 300 apparently healthy students (150 waterpipe smokers and 150 nonsmokers) were included in the study. Waterpipe smokers showed significantly lower values in FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF25–75% compared to the nonsmoker group (P<0.05 to P<0.001). The subgroup analysis on female students (50 WP smokers and 50 nonsmokers) showed a significant decrease in FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF25–75% parameters (P<0.001). Conclusion. Waterpipe smoking is associated with reduced spirometric parameters in healthy young adults with relatively limited smoking years.

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Cotton dust exposure and self-reported respiratory symptoms among textile factory workers in Northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology ◽

10.1186/s12995-018-0194-9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sintayehu Daba Wami ◽

Daniel Haile Chercos ◽

Awrajaw Dessie ◽

Zemichael Gizaw ◽

Atalay Getachew ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Northwest Ethiopia ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cotton Dust ◽

Factory Workers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Textile Factory ◽

Textile Factory Workers

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Association of occupational dust exposure with combined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumoconiosis: a cross-sectional study in China

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038874 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e038874

Author(s):

Yali Fan ◽

Wenjing Xu ◽

Yuanying Wang ◽

Yiran Wang ◽

Shiwen Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Heavy Smoking ◽

Occupational Dust Exposure ◽

Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis ◽

Coal Workers

ObjectivesOccupational dust exposure may induce various lung diseases, including pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The features of combined COPD and pneumoconiosis have not been well described, and this may hamper the management. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics as well as the risk factors of the combined diseases.DesignA cross-sectional study.Setting and participants758 patients with pneumoconiosis were recruited at a single-medical centre. Of these, 675 patients with pneumoconiosis, including asbestosis, silicosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and other pneumoconiosis, was eligible for analysis.Primary outcome measuresCOPD was diagnosed based on clinical features and/or history of exposure to risk factors and post bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio <0.7. Clinical data were collected from predesigned medical reports. The patients underwent both chest radiograph and high-resolution CT scans. Risk factors for combined COPD and pneumoconiosis were analysed using regression analysis.ResultsCOPD prevalence overall was 32.7% (221/675) and was the highest in silicosis (84/221) and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (100/221). COPD prevalence increased with smoking pack-years, dust exposure duration and pneumoconiosis stage. Patients with combined diseases had lower body mass index, higher smoking index and worse pulmonary function. Risk factors for combined diseases included heavy smoking, silica or coal exposure and advanced pneumoconiosis. The interaction between dust exposure and smoking in COPD was also identified. The risk of combined COPD significantly increased with heavy smoking and silica or coal exposure (OR 5.49, 95% CI 3.04 to 9.93, p<0.001).ConclusionsCOPD is highly prevalent in patients with pneumoconiosis, especially patients with silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis. Occupational dust exposure as well as heavy smoking is associated with an increased risk of combined COPD and pneumoconiosis, which demands an effective preventive intervention.

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