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BACKGROUND: Polyacrylate (PA) powder dust formed in PA manufacturing units is fine sized, i.e., in nanosize. Although several previous studies reported possible significant adverse effects of nanomaterials, studies on the harmful effect of small-sized PA particles on the respiratory health of the workers are scarce. The present study was carried out to assess the effect of PA on respiratory health and lung volumes/rates among the workers of PA manufacturing unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included 84 workers of PA manufacturing unit. Using interview technique as a tool for data collection, demographic, occupational, and clinical details of the workers were recorded on the predesigned pro forma. This was followed by detailed clinical examination, spirometry, chest X-ray ( posteroanterior [PA] view), and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examination of each worker. RESULTS: On the basis of clinical examination, chest radiography, and HRCT, 17.9% of the workers were found to have fibrotic and cavitary changes in lung parenchyma. The production department workers had a higher proportion of respiratory morbidities as compared to supervisory or office staff. Age, gender, smoking habit, and duration of exposure were nonsignificant risk factors for respiratory morbidity. The overall mean forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1st s, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), (Maximal Mid Expiratory Flow Rate) MMEFR0.2-1.2, and MMEFR25%-75% were 3.19 ± 0.77 L, 2.72 ± 0.67 L, 6.82 ± 1.86 L/s, 5.79 ± 2.03 L/s, and 3.16 ± 1.19 L/s, respectively. Females and those having respiratory morbidity had significantly lower values of all spirometric parameters as compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The workers exposed to engineered fine dust of PA may be at risk of respiratory ill-health.

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Eighty-five female quartz mill stone-grinding workers belonging to the Naika, Rathwa and Damor tribes of Chhotaudepur village of the Godhra region of Gujarat, Western India were surveyed and examined to assess health effects related to free silica dust exposure. The mean age for the subjects was 28.2 +/- 9.2 years, while the mean duration of exposure was 2.04 +/- 1.7 years. Chest radiographs showed findings suggestive of silicosis in 14%, silico-tuberculosis in 11.6% and tuberculosis in 8.1% of the study subjects. Respiratory morbidity was significantly associated with duration of exposure (X2 = 9.9, df = 2, p<0.007). On spirometry, obstructive, restrictive and combined (restrictive as well as obstructive) changes were found in 12.8%, 10.5% and 3.5% of the subjects, respectively. Overall, about one-third of subjects displayed abnormal pulmonary function and respiratory morbidity on chest radiographs.

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Tuberculosis (TB) is a global emergency. Poverty, increasing migration, homelessness and the compulsions to live and work in high-risk environments are making people increasingly susceptible to the disease. Those working in mines, construction work, stone-crushing and in other similar occupations where there is a greater level of exposure to silica dust are specially vulnerable. Though the association between TB and silicosis has been firmly established by the results of epidemiologic studies no attempts have been made to study the epidemiological features of radiologically active TB among free silica exposed workers. Thus the cross sectional study was carried out among slate pencil workers and quartz stone crushers to assess the prevalence of TB and some associated epidemiological factors. It included 253 quartz workers and 102 slate pencil workers. Clinical history and chest radiographs were used for labeling the subjects as tuberculotic. The pulmonary functions of the subjects were measured using Spirovit SP- 10. Statistical analysis was carried out using statistical software package Epi Info 3.3.2. Among stone crushers the prevalence of TB was found to be 10.7% while among slate pencil workers it was as high as 22.5%. Among the quartz stone-crushers the workers aged ≥35 years, those exposed for ≥3 years and those who were smokers had higher risk TB while among the slate pencil workers, only those exposed for ≥10 years had higher risk. Though the FVC and FEV(1) values of the workers having TB were lower than those having normal radiographs, the differences were found to statistically non-significant.

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BACKGROUND: The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 136 quartz stone grinders with the objective of studying the peak expiratory flow (PEF) and the associated epidemiological factors. METHODS: Interview technique was used to record demographic characteristics and occupational history on a predesigned proforma, which included questionnaires regarding demographic, occupational and clinical characteristics. This was followed by complete medical examination and measurement of PEF using Spirovit SP-10. The study included 75 (55.1%) male and 61 (44.9%) female silica-exposed workers. The mean age of the subjects was 31.77 +/- 9.99 years whereas the mean duration of exposure was 2.74 +/- 1.65 years. The mean PEF was found to be 5.16 +/- 2.1 L/min. RESULTS: In the present study the PEF was significantly reduced in those having respiratory morbidity on both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that along with the restrictive pathology caused by free silica dust, obstructive changes are also encountered in silica-exposed workers.

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