Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence of Byssinosis in Karachi cotton mills.
Methodology: One hundred and thirty workers from morning shifts only were randomly selected. Each worker was examined and interviewed thoroughly using a structured, pretested questionnaire. FEVI, and FVC were done in all subjects.
Results: Mean age of card room, spinning room and blow room workers were 29.9, 25.3 and 25.4 years respectively. The mean age of all workers included in the study is 24.4 years. The workers distribution according to the duration of work was 30 from 1-5 years, 45 from 6-10 years; 20 from 11-20 year while 5 were working for more than 21 years. The symptoms, amongst the mill workers, in order of frequency, were sputum 50%, cough and breathlessness 46%, tightness of chest 22% and chest pain 10%.
Prevalence of Byssinosis was 8%. 75 % of Byssinotics were up to 40 years of age while 25 % were more than 40 years. 87.5% Byssinotics were working from less than 20 years while 12.5% were working for more than 20 years.
Conclusion: Byssinosis was found to be 8% among the workers studied. Exposure to cotton dust caused significant reduction in FEV1 and FVC in all groups of cotton workers. Smokers were more prone to Byssinossis than non-smokers or ex-smokers. (Rawal Med J 2013;38: ).

Key words: Byssinosis, cotton dust, Pulmonary function test.