الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
More than one third of the Egyptian workforce is employed in textile industry, and this workforce is expected to increase in the next years. Workers in the textile industry are exposed to many health hazards such as cotton dust, chemicals, dies, noise, and awkward positions. Processing of cotton fibers through different manufacturing processes in textile industry leads to generation of cotton dust into the atmosphere. Cotton dust particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 1μm are sedimented in the gas‑exchange area (terminal bronchioles and alveoli) of the lung. Cotton dust inhalation is responsible for the major respiratory symptoms and disease among textile workers. In spite of the seriousness of exposure to cotton dust as reported by numerous studies conducted in developed countries, little interest has been provided to the problem in Egypt. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the impact of exposure to cotton dust on the respiratory system of the textile workers.
A cross sectional comparative design was implemented for this study. Inference population (n=184) included all male textile workers exposed to cotton dust and fulfilled the inclusion criteria in a textile factory located in Alexandria Governorate. A comparison population consisted of 180 workers not exposed to cotton dust or any other hazards that might affect the respiratory system were selected from same factory.
All cotton dust exposed workers and unexposed workers were subjected to a self-structured interviewing questionnaire; the questionnaire included two sections: section one dealt with personal data and section two covered the occupational history. BMRC questionnaire had been used in the present study.
A byssinosis diagnosis format was used to diagnose byssinosis according to the schilling criteria.
Also, physical examination was carried out to all workers in the study. Local examination of the chest was done, where any abnormal signs were recorded through inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation of the chest. Workers were screened to detect their anthropometric measurements.
Furthermore, Pulmonary function measurement using a computerized spirometer which can produce both volume-time and flow-volume curves, was done for cotton dust exposed workers as well as unexposed workers. Mean values and mean percent predicted values of the following lung volumes and some lung function indices were recorded for each worker: VC (L), FVC (L), FEV1 (L), FEV1/ FVC %, PEFR (L/S), FEF75 (L/S), FEF50 (L /S), FEF25 (L/S), and MVV (L/min).
Additionally, PEFR was measured for all cotton dust exposed workers at their workplace within 20 minutes before and after the shift. PEFR was measured in a standing position by using a portable handheld Omron peak flow meter.
The present study showed no significant difference between cotton dust exposed workers and unexposed workers regarding their mean age, height, weight, level of education, and smoking habit. Moreover, there was no statisti