Peak expiratory flow rate; comparison of cotton mills workers and healthy controls in Multan

ABSTRACT

To ascertain the effects of cotton dust on the peak expiratory flow of cotton mill workers in comparison with the healthy controls who never exposure to the cotton dust. Outpatient Department of Pulmonology, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. August 2011 to March 2012. A total of 200 male subjects [100 healthy controls and 100 cotton mill workers] who strictly met the inclusion criteria were selected from the OPD. The peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] [L/min] of cotton mill workers was significantly lower as compared to the control subjects and this impairment was directly proportional to the duration of exposure to the cotton dust in the mail. It was concluded from the study that the peak expiratory flow rate was decreased in the cotton mill workers