Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence of and breathlessness 46%, tightness of chest 22%
byssinosis in Karachi cotton mills. and chest pain 10%.
Methodology: One hundred and thirty workers Prevalence of byssinosis was 8%. 75 % of
from morning shifts only were randomly selected. byssinotics were up to 40 years of age while 25 %
Each worker was examined and interviewed were more than 40 years. 87.5% Byssinotics were
thoroughly using a structured, pretested question- working from less than 20 years while 12.5% were
naire. FEV , and FVC were done in all subjects. working for more than 20 years. 1
Results: Mean age of card room, spinning room Conclusion: Byssinosis was found to be 8%
and blow room workers were 29.9, 25.3 and 25.4 among the workers studied. Exposure to cotton
years respectively. The mean age of all workers dust caused significant reduction in FEV and FVC 1
included in the study is 24.4 years. The workers in all groups of cotton workers. Smokers were
distribution according to the duration of work was more prone to byssinossis than non-smokers or
30 from 1-5 years, 45 from 6-10 years; 20 from 11- ex-smokers. (Rawal Med J 2013;38: 230-233).
20 year while 5 were working for more than 21 Key words: Byssinosis, cotton dust, pulmonary
years. The symptoms, amongst the mill workers, function test.
in order of frequency, were sputum 50%, cough
