CONTROL-BASED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON FLOUR MILL WORKERS' OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA

Abstract

Occupational asthma remains a significant global concern, particularly impacting workers exposed to grain and flour dust, which stands as the second most frequently cited cause of such asthma cases. Despite being prevalent, limited research has delved into the topic, with a focus on symptomatology. Notably, a study investigated the prevalence of occupational asthma in South Cairo's flour mills, revealing that a quarter of workers exhibited work-related asthma symptoms that manifested during work hours and subsided post work. Moreover, these asthmatic workers displayed inferior spirometric parameters compared to non-asthmatic counterparts. Similarly, studies conducted in other regions corroborate these findings. For instance, an investigation in Iraq among flour mill workers discovered a significantly high prevalence of occupational asthma, substantiated both by self-reports and investigator diagnoses. In Egypt, a study involving flour production mill workers highlighted complaints of asthma due to occupational exposure, coupled with diminished respiratory capacity. Additionally, Indian research unveiled that chronic exposure to flour dust led to pronounced respiratory symptoms, including cough, breathlessness, and wheezing, further compounded by substantial declines across various pulmonary function tests. In sum, these collective studies emphasize the link between flour dust exposure and the prevalence of occupational asthma, urging comprehensive measures to safeguard the respiratory health of workers.