Special Operation Medical Research Department, Defence Services Medical Research Centre, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Public Health, Yangon, Myanmar.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Apr 7;21(1):673. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10712-0.
Airborne dusts are being potentially harmful for workers in occupational environment. Exposure to respirable dust is the most important concern in textile workers for the widespread of occupational lung diseases, especially more serious in developing countries. The aim of the study was to assess the respirable dust exposure and associated factors of lung functions among textile workers.
A cross-sectional study was carried out at a textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December, 2018 and a total of 207 textile workers were randomly selected by using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire for respiratory symptoms, an air sampling pump for assessment of respirable dust exposure, and a spirometer for testing the lung functions. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of lung functions. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were computed for strength of associations at the significance level of α ≤ 0.05.
The mean (± standard deviation, SD) respirable dust exposure was 3.3 mg/m (± 0.69) and the prevalence of increased respirable dust exposure (> 3 mg/m) was 50.7%. The level of respirable dust exposure was highest in the textile workers involving at twisting department. The means (± SD) spirometry values were FVC 82.8% (± 17.8), FEV 83.6% (± 18.5), and FEV/FVC 0.9 (± 0.1). Overall magnitude of reduced lung functions was 40.1%, and the prevalence of reduced FVC, FEV and FEV/FVC were 36.7, 34.3 and 3.9% respectively. The current working at twisting department, > 5 years of service duration, respiratory symptoms and increased respirable dust exposure were associated with reduction in FVC and FEV.
The current working department, service duration, respiratory symptoms and exposure to respirable dust were predictors of lung functions in textile workers. An adequate ventilation, good work practices, hygienic workplace, safety and health training regarding potential health effects, and periodically assessment of lung functions are the critical elements for control of respirable dust exposure and reduction of occupational lung diseases.
空气中的粉尘对职业环境中的工人可能有害。在纺织工人中，可吸入粉尘的暴露是广泛职业性肺部疾病的最重要关注点，在发展中国家尤为严重。本研究旨在评估纺织工人的可吸入粉尘暴露及其与肺功能的关系。
2018 年 4 月至 12 月在仰光地区的一家纺织厂（Thamine）进行了一项横断面研究，采用多阶段抽样程序随机选择了 207 名纺织工人。通过使用呼吸症状结构化问卷、空气采样泵评估可吸入粉尘暴露情况以及肺活量计测试肺功能收集数据。采用 logistic 回归分析评估肺功能的相关因素。在α≤0.05 的显著性水平下，计算了关联强度的比值比（95%置信区间）。
可吸入粉尘暴露的平均（±标准差，SD）值为 3.3mg/m（±0.69），可吸入粉尘暴露增加（>3mg/m）的患病率为 50.7%。在参与捻线部门的纺织工人中，可吸入粉尘暴露水平最高。肺活量计值的平均值（±SD）为 FVC 82.8%（±17.8）、FEV 83.6%（±18.5）和 FEV/FVC 0.9（±0.1）。整体肺功能下降幅度为 40.1%，FVC、FEV 和 FEV/FVC 降低的患病率分别为 36.7%、34.3%和 3.9%。目前在捻线部门工作、服务年限>5 年、有呼吸道症状和可吸入粉尘暴露增加与 FVC 和 FEV 降低有关。
目前的工作部门、服务年限、呼吸道症状和可吸入粉尘暴露是纺织工人肺功能的预测因素。充分的通风、良好的工作实践、卫生的工作场所、安全和健康培训，以了解潜在的健康影响，以及定期评估肺功能，是控制可吸入粉尘暴露和减少职业性肺部疾病的关键要素。
