Abstract

Background: Flour milling involves the processing and grinding of cereals into flour. Exposures to flour occur in milling operations, where grain is processed into flour. The pulmonary function test is one of the important measures to assess respiratory efficiency. The present study was aimed to find out the effect of flour dust on forced vital capacity (FVC) in flour mill workers.

Aims and Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the spirometric parameters in flour mill workers (FMW) and to compare the observed values of FMWs and bank office workers to provide health education and preventive measure to them.

Materials and Methods: Effect of flour dust on FVC was recorded in 60 males FMWs and 60 males controlled groups of office worker included in this study, those are working in flour mill >2 years. Statistical analysis was performed by unpaired t-test and values shown in mean ± Standard deviation.

Results: FVC of FMW is very much compromised when compared to office worker value. Observed value of FVC of FMW is 2.57 ± 1.05 and Office worker (OW) is 3.60 ± 0.67, Forced expiration volume in first second (FEV1) of FMW–1.92 ± 0.87 and OW–3.05 ± 0.49 FEV1/FVC of FMW–74.02 ± 17.31 and OW–85.74 ± data are analyzed with un-pair student t–test the P value is highly significant.

Conclusion: From the study, we can conclude that statistically significant changes are seen in pulmonary function test parameters of FMWs. Moreover, these significant changes in pulmonary function test parameters may be due to the prolonged exposure of flour dust, to which FMW are constantly being exposed.

Key words: Flour Dust, Flour mill Workers, Forced Vital Capacity, Spirometry