%0 Journal Article %A Hamdy Ali Mohammadien Mahmoud %A Mona Taha Hassien %A Raaft Talaat Ibrahim %T Effects of exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function of mill workers %D 2012 %J European Respiratory Journal %P P1032 %V 40 %N Suppl 56 %X Background: Exposure to flour dust is associated with development of respiratory symptoms and varying degree of reduction in lung function. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms and lung function of flour mill workers and to estimate the additive effect of smoking on pulmonary functions.METHODS::This study was carried out at flour mills in Sohag Governorate. Two hundried male workers with current exposure to flour dust and Two hundried non-exposed male as a control group were interviewed and self designed study questionnaire was administered to them and the parameters of their pulmonary function were measured.RESULTS::respiratory symptoms such as cough, expectoration, wheezing, and shortness of breath, were significantly (p < 0.0001) more common in exposed workers as compared to unexposed counterparts. Furthermore significant (p < 0.001) decrements in the pulmonary function of exposed subjects were noted. The additive effect of smoking was clearly noticed as there was a highly statistically significant decline of FEV1% and FVC% in smokers compared to non-smokers (p<0.0001). COPD, asthma and chronic bronchitis were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher among workers compared with control subjects. Statistically significant association between COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis and age (P <0.02), smoking (P <0.002), duration of employment (P <0.0001),level of exposures (P < 0.0001) was found.CONCLUSIONS:: flour mill workers were at an increased risk of developing pulmonary symptoms & a strong association exists between exposure to flour dust and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and functional impairments of the lungs. %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/40/Suppl_56/P1032.full.pdf