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A study of the respiratory health of tea packaging workers was conducted. The cohort consisted of 249 persons, 52.6% of whom were females, mean age 39.1 years (yr), employed at a tea packaging facility. They were exposed to a dust (tea fluff) consisting of broken tea leaves, inorganic particles, and traces of silica (14808607). The controls consisted of 171 persons, 52.6% of whom were females, mean age 38.0yr, whose jobs did not involve exposure to tea fluff. The subjects completed a questionnaire to obtain information on smoking history, history of chest problems, and perceived respiratory symptoms. The exposed workers reported a significantly higher prevalence of recurring blocked or running nose and bouts of coughing and chest tightness than the controls. The increased prevalence of blocked or runny nose among the exposed workers was still significant after controlling for smoking and a history of hay fever. Based on the questionnaire responses, a subgroup of 13 workers who reported symptoms and 14 who did not report any symptoms were selected for a peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) evaluation. They were given portable monitors and PEFR readings were taken at 2 hour intervals from waking until sleeping for 12 days starting on Monday morning and ending on Friday of the following week. The mean maximum and minimum PEFR differences between work and nonwork days for the symptomatic subjects were 38.51 and 51.8 liters per minute (l/min), respectively. The corresponding mean differences in the asymptomatic subjects were 38.6 and 49.6l/min. The differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects were not significant and were not related to age, sex, years of exposure, smoking, or atopic status. The authors conclude that this study has provided little evidence that this group of tea packers has become sensitized to tea fluff. Their reported symptoms may reflect the presence of some irritant in tea fluff.
Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 40(5):491-497, 1996. (11 references)
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