Cross-Sectional Survey of Respiratory Disease among Grain and Feed Workers in China

摘要

Workers from three production units in Shanghai were studied to determine the epidemiology of respiratory disease among the rice, grain, and feed processing workers of China. Special attention was directed to the occurrence of Farmers Lung and grain fever. Total dust samples were collected from the work environment. Additional sources of input were physical examination, pulmonary function studies, serologic tests and questionnaire. An excess of chronic nonspecific respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis was noted among the workers exposed to dust of grain and straw. Symptoms consistent with Farmer's Lung were also noted among these employees. Smokers more frequently reported difficulties than did nonsmokers including cough and shortness of breath on exertion and chronic bronchitis. However, smokers did not experience a higher incidence of Farmer's Lung than did nonsmokers. Exposure to dust from rice, grain and straw was found to cause inflammation in workers, including chronic bronchitis; episodes of grain fever and Farmers Lung occurred in these workers. The author concludes that the dust probably causes an airway effect, and smoking may enhance this effect.