Ong S G, Lam T H, Wong C M, Chow W K, Ma P L, Lam S K, O'Kelly F J
Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong.
Am J Ind Med. 1987;12(6):773-7. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700120618.
Between February 1982 and October 1984, a total of 2,317 workers from all levels of cotton processing--carding, blowing, spinning and weaving--were studied in a citywide cross-sectional survey. The workers were administered the British MRC Questionnaire in local dialect and their pre- and postshift lung functions were assessed by portable spirometers. The prevalence of byssinosis for the whole industry was 2.3%, being much greater in the more dusty processes (blowing and carding, 5.6%; weaving 1.6%). Even more important was the prevalence of chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) (13.8%) and a combination of nonspecific respiratory symptoms (10.0%), characterized by chest tightness and dyspnea, but not related to any specific day of the week such as those seen in typical byssinosis. The importance of these two large groups of respiratory problems in relation to byssinosis and the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases in people exposed to cotton dust is discussed.
在1982年2月至1984年10月期间，在一项全市范围的横断面调查中，对来自棉花加工各个环节（梳棉、清花、纺纱和织布）的总共2317名工人进行了研究。用当地方言对工人们进行了英国医学研究委员会问卷的调查，并通过便携式肺活量计评估了他们班前和班后的肺功能。整个行业棉尘肺的患病率为2.3%，在粉尘较多的工序（清花和梳棉，5.6%；织布，1.6%）中患病率更高。更为重要的是慢性阻塞性气道疾病（COAD）的患病率（13.8%）以及以胸闷和呼吸困难为特征、但与一周中任何特定日期无关（如典型棉尘肺中所见）的非特异性呼吸道症状组合的患病率（10.0%）。本文讨论了这两大类呼吸道问题与棉尘肺的关系以及接触棉花粉尘人群中呼吸系统疾病的发病机制。
