THE PATTERN OF LUNG-FUNCTION ABNORMALITIES IN COTTON TEXTILE WORKERS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 129  (4) , 523-527
Abstract
Reversible airway obstruction was a characteristic finding of early byssinosis. In the chronic phase of this disease, the patterns of respiratory abnormalities were not well defined. The lung function of a cohort of 383 older (.gtoreq. 45 yr of age), active and retired, cotton textile workers seen in 1973 and in 1979 in Columbia, South Carolina [USA], was examined. A group of control subjects consisted of 277 white community residents of comparable age from Lebanon, Connecticut [USA]. Using data at follow-up, 25% of the male and 14% of the female cotton textile workers had moderate to severe obstructive airway abnormalities, as opposed to 13 and 5% for male and female control subjects (P < 0.01). There were fewer persons with restrictive than with obstructive lung patterns among cotton textile workers and control subjects, but abnormalities were more prevalent among cotton textile workers. Overall, 50% of male and 37% of female cotton textile workers had some abnormality of lung function, as opposed to 29% of male and 20% of female control subjects (P < 0.001). More abnormalities were present in cotton textile workers than in control subjects when only lifetime nonsmokers were examined. There was an increased prevalence of obstructive and restrictive lung function abnormalities among cotton textile workers when compared with control subjects, with the most common pattern being obstructive.