الفهرس 
Chapter One:Environmental DegradationOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
SUMMARY
Giza Spinning , Weaving , Dying and Garments plant in Kafr Hakim , Giza Governorate was chosen in a prospective study where the plant is covering all textiles sector activities ( Spinning , Weaving , Circular & Flat Knitting , Dyeing & Finishing , Printing , Embroidery , Cutting and Garment production ).
Nine hundred and fifty workers completed a questionnaire which was modified from The American Thoracic Society Questionnaire ( ATSQ ). The questionnaire was randomly delivered to 1300 workers out of total workers of the plant who constituted 4200 workers. Sampling considered the number of workers per each factory .
Stratified random sample was taken to include workers in dyeing, finishing and printing sectors who were exposed to VOCs and workers in spinning, weaving ,and knitting sectors(unexposed group). All workers were subjected to pulmonary function testing.
The prospective cohort study was initiated in 2009, with 447 cotton workers exposed to cotton dust and VOCs(group 1) and 472 unexposed cotton workers (group 2) . Follow-up surveys were performed approximately at 3 years.
Work area measurements of ambient gases, airborne particulates ,hydrocarbons and VOCs emissions including xylene,toluene and acetone were carried out by Tebin Institute of Metallurgic Studies,(TIMS), Environmental Research Center(ERC), all over the years 2009,2010 & 2011.
Spirograms were performed by trained technicians consistent with methods from previous surveys and according to American Thoracic Society criteria .The 3-year change in FEV1 was calculated by subtracting prework shift FEV1 of the first survey from prework FEV1 at final survey.
A modified American Thoracic Society standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire (Ferris,1978) that was translated into Arabic and back-translated into English was used to collect information on work and medical and smoking history. We extracted the following respiratory symptoms variables for analysis: chronic bronchitis, chronic cough, dyspnea, and asthma, as defined previously (Wang et al,2003).
There were no significant differences in age, height, and sex between workers in cotton fabrics who are exposed to VOCs,(group 1) and workers in other cotton sectors who were not exposed to VOCs,( group 2), in the current study . Cotton workers exposed to VOCs in fabric department (group 1) had a higher frequency of chronic bronchitis, chronic cough, and dyspnea compared with unexposed workers,(p˂0.001).
Although cotton workers exposed to VOCS in cotton fabric (group 1) experienced significantly greater decline in annual FEV1,(25.6±14.5 ml/yr), than non exposed cotton workers (group 2),(22.5±12.5 ml/yr),the rate of decline was slightly significant (p= 0.02 ).
Mean percent predicted FEV1 for cotton workers in group 1 and other workers in group 2, was 69.3 ± 15.3% and 74.1 ± 14.9%, respectively,(p˂0.05).
Different concentrations of PM,and TSP were determined in various departments and there was insignificant difference among various sites,(p˃0.05).
Levels of xylene,toluene and acetone in cotton fabric departments
Xylene concentrations were significantly higher in cotton fabric departments when compared to other departments,(p˂0.01).
Significantly higher concentrations of toluene and acetone were also observed in cotton fabric departments,(p˂0.001).
Compared with workers exposed to raw cotton, cotton workers in cotton fabric departments reported significantly more respiratory symptoms (chronic bronchitis, chronic cough, dyspnea, and byssinosis) over 3 years (odds ratio [OR], for COPD, 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–1.86; P < 0.001), and (OR, for dyspnea, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.94–1.01; P < 0.05). Examined by subgroups, the prevalence of chronic cough was greater for fabric cotton workers (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.60–2.77; P < 0.0001) than for other cotton workers (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88–0.99; P < 0.01), with lower concentrations of VOCs.
The present findings from the 3-year follow-up study of cotton textile workers suggest that after cotton dust exposure, lung function loss and respiratory symptoms are more common in cotton fabric workers compared to workers exposed to raw cotton dust .
The risk of COPD, asthma, chronic cough and dyspnea was significantly higher among cotton fabric workers with significant exposure to toluene and xylene in cotton fabric departments.
We recommend regular check up for workers in textile industries and health education to illustrate hazards of air pollution among different departments in textile sector in addition to avoidance of smoking.
Regular monitoring of pulmonary function testing for all workers in textile sector should be done to identify those workers with impaired respiratory parameters for early detection and appropriate management.
Strict monitoring of aerodynamic pollutants in textile sectors should be done on regular bases to identify hazardous levels and every effort should be done to mitigate levels to be within the standard parameters.
Special attention should be directed to estimation of volatile organic compounds especially in fabric departments to ensure safe levels of xelyene, toluene, acetone and styrene in different departments.
Prophylactic measures should be encouraged among workers in textile sectors to decrease exposure to air pollutants in work atmosphere especially volatile organic compounds.