A study of pulmonary functin tests in cotton mill women workers of coimbatore district

Byssinosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of cotton dust for prolonged period of time. This is most frequently occurs in the cotton mill women workers. The word byssinosis is derived from Latin which means fine, soft, white fibers. Byssinosis is characterized by cough, wheeze, and chest tightness on the 1st day of work after returning from rest. 
Aim: The present study taken to evaluate the lung function of cotton mill women workers who were working for past 5 years in Coimbatore district. 
Methods: The present study was conducted on two groups of female subjects, comprising of apparently healthy females, of age ranging from 20-30 years. Group -1 consists of 50 female subjects who had occupational history of working in card room of cotton mills for about 5 years. Group-2 consists of 50 female subjects of same ages (20-30years) who were working in the packing room for the past 5 years taken as control group. The study was conducted on Mondays (which is first working day after rest) on computerized spirometer - spirolyser SPL 95. Pulmonary functions were recorded i.e FVC, FEV1, PEFR, PEF25%-75%. 
Results: FVC was decreased significantly (<0.001) in group-1 when compared with group-2.FEV1 in the cotton mill workers decreased significantly (<0.001) than the controlsubjects.group-1 showed significant decrease (<0.001) in PEFR than group-2. FEV 25%-75% in the cotton mill workers decreased significantly (<0.001) than the control subjects.