Byssinosis

Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease caused by exposure to cotton, flax and hemp dust.  Maximum number of workers with byssinosis are reported in the cotton textile industry as it is one of the largest industries in the world. In India, there are about 1.07 million workers engaged in the manufacture of cotton textiles. 

The  workers engaged  in the initial processes of textile manufacturing (blow, card, frame and ring frame) are exposed to cotton dust and develop the disease after some years of exposure.  Several studies have reported byssinosis in India but they failed to demonstrate the severity and magnitude of the disease.  

The low prevalence reported in those studies created an impression that the disease is not an important problem.  The epidemiological studies conducted by NIOH for the first time showed a very high prevalence of the disease especially in blow (30%) and card (38%) sections. These prevalence figures were same as reported in U.K. and other countries of the world.

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