Pulmonary function tests in saw mill factory workers.

The prevalence of pneumoconiosis varies from 15–30% in various parts of India (1). Occupational asthma may account for about 10% of adult asthma (2). Asthma associated with work is being recognized with increased f requency in carpenters , saw mi l l workers and furn i tu re makers . The cause for occupa t iona l as thma i s wood/saw dus t . Ear l ie r s tud ies have documented increased incidence of asthma, chronic bronchitis and hypersensi t ivi ty pneumonia in wood cut ters and saw mil l workers (3 , 4) . Reduct ion in pulmonary function indices are known to be associated with these respiratory condit ions (5) . S tud ies o f resp i ra to ry morb id i ty and lung func t ion assessment have been per formed among workers f rom var ious occupat ions but there are very few studies among saw mi l l workers . Hence , we have conduc ted the p resen t s tudy to assess the pulmonary func t ion tes t s in saw mi l l workers , to t es t the hypothes i s tha t inha la t ion of wooden dus t decreases pulmonary funct ion in saw mil l workers .