Respiratory function in flour-mill workers

The frequency of bronchial symptoms and the alteration of respiratory function parameters were studied in a group of 63 workers of an industrial flour-mill, and in a control group matched according to age, social class, and tobacco intake. In the exposed group the answers to a questionnaire indicated a greater incidence of cough (p<0.01) and chronic expectoration (p<0.01) as well as clinical airway hyperreactivity (p<0.01). No differences were noted for either asthma or allergy. The respiratory function parameters did not differ between the two groups studied. These results suggest that workers exposed to the vegetable dust found in fluormills are subject to develop chronic bronchial irritation.