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Occupational Medicine 1991;41:140-142
© 1991 Society of Occupational Medicine

research-article

Asthma in Silk Workers

C. G. URAGODA and P. N. B. WIJEKOON

Central Chest Clinic Colombo 10, Sri Lanka

Workers who process raw silk are exposed to a fine dust derived from the gum that binds the strands secreted by the silkworm. Fifty-three such workers, all women and non-smokers with an average of 5.8 years of service in the industry, were examined. Eighteen (33.9 per cent) workers had occupational asthma, the highest proportion (48.2 per cent) being in those twisting silk. A lower prevalence (20.0 per cent) was found in workers in the degumming sector, while the least (16.6 per cent) was in weavers. This declining prevalence in the three processing stages appears to be in line with their declining exposure to dust. The occupational asthma was of the intermediate and late types occurring 30 minutes to 6 hours after starting work and subsiding 1 to 8 hours after leaving the factory.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Dr C. G. Uragoda, Central Chest Clinic, 385 Deans Road, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka


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