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Asaad Ahmed Nafees - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • use of low cost particle counters for cotton dust exposure assessment in Textile Mills in low and middle income countries
    Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 2021
    Co-Authors: Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Sara De Matteis, Peter Burney, Paul Cullinan, Abdul Rehman Iqbal, Sean Semple
    Abstract:

    OBJECTIVE There is a lack of consensus on methods for cotton dust measurement in the Textile industry, and techniques vary between countries-relying mostly on cumbersome, traditional approaches. We undertook comparisons of standard, gravimetric methods with low-cost optical particle counters for personal and area dust measurements in Textile Mills in Pakistan. METHODS We included male Textile workers from the weaving sections of seven cotton Mills in Karachi. We used the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler with a Casella Apex 2 standard pump and the Purple Air (PA-II-SD) for measuring personal exposures to inhalable airborne particles (n = 31). We used the Dylos DC1700 particle counter, in addition to the two above, for area-level measurements (n = 29). RESULTS There were no significant correlations between the IOM and PA for personal dust measurements using the original (r = -0.15, P = 0.4) or log-transformed data (r = -0.32, P = 0.07). Similarly, there were no significant correlations when comparing the IOM with either of the particle counters (PA and Dylos) for area dust measurements, using the original (r = -0.07, P = 0.7; r = 0.10, P = 0.6) or log-transformed data (r = -0.09, P = 0.6; r = 0.07, P = 0.7). CONCLUSION Our findings show a lack of correlation between the gravimetric method and the use of particle counters in both personal and area measurements of cotton dust, precluding their use for measuring occupational exposures to airborne dust in Textile Mills. There continues to be a need to develop low-cost instruments to help Textile industries in low- and middle-income countries to perform cotton dust exposure assessment.

  • multitex rct a multifaceted intervention package for protection against cotton dust exposure among Textile workers a cluster randomized controlled trial in pakistan study protocol
    Trials, 2019
    Co-Authors: Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Sara De Matteis, Peter Burney, David Coggon, Sean Semple, Paul Cullinan
    Abstract:

    In the Pakistani Textile industry the prevalence of workplace respiratory illnesses, including byssinosis, is high. The MultiTex RCT study aims to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention package in reducing dust levels in cotton Mills, decreasing the frequency of respiratory symptoms among cotton Textile workers, and improving their lung function. We will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial at 28 Textile Mills in Karachi. The intervention will comprise: training in occupational health for all workers and managers reinforced by regular refresher sessions; the formation of workplace committees to draw up, agree and promote a health and safety plan that includes wet mopping, safe disposal of cotton dust, and the use of simple face-masks, as well as further publicity about the risks from cotton dust; and provision of adequate supplies of face-masks to support the health and safety plan. Participating Mills will be randomized to intervention and control arms following a baseline survey. The impact of the intervention will be determined through follow-up surveys conducted at 3, 12 and 18 months. Data collection in the surveys will include spirometry, questionnaire-based interviews and cotton-dust measurements. If successful, the study may pave the way for simple, low-cost interventions that can help reduce cotton-dust levels in Textile Mills, and improve the respiratory health of Textile workers in developing countries such as Pakistan. ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03738202. Registered on 12 November 2018.

  • MultiTex RCT - a multifaceted intervention package for protection against cotton dust exposure among Textile workers - a cluster randomized controlled trial in Pakistan: study protocol
    'Springer Science and Business Media LLC', 2019
    Co-Authors: Asaad Ahmed Nafees, De Matteis S, Mm Kadir, Burney P, Coggon D, Semple S, Cullinan P
    Abstract:

    BACKGROUND: In the Pakistani Textile industry the prevalence of workplace respiratory illnesses, including byssinosis, is high. The MultiTex RCT study aims to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention package in reducing dust levels in cotton Mills, decreasing the frequency of respiratory symptoms among cotton Textile workers, and improving their lung function. METHODS/DESIGN: We will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial at 28 Textile Mills in Karachi. The intervention will comprise: training in occupational health for all workers and managers reinforced by regular refresher sessions; the formation of workplace committees to draw up, agree and promote a health and safety plan that includes wet mopping, safe disposal of cotton dust, and the use of simple face-masks, as well as further publicity about the risks from cotton dust; and provision of adequate supplies of face-masks to support the health and safety plan. Participating Mills will be randomized to intervention and control arms following a baseline survey. The impact of the intervention will be determined through follow-up surveys conducted at 3, 12 and 18 months. Data collection in the surveys will include spirometry, questionnaire-based interviews and cotton-dust measurements. DISCUSSION: If successful, the study may pave the way for simple, low-cost interventions that can help reduce cotton-dust levels in Textile Mills, and improve the respiratory health of Textile workers in developing countries such as Pakistan. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03738202. Registered on 12 November 2018

  • knowledge attitude and practices regarding respiratory symptoms among Textile workers of karachi pakistan a cross sectional survey
    Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 2015
    Co-Authors: Aneeta Khoso, Asaad Ahmed Nafees
    Abstract:

    Objectives: To determine the prevalence and predictors of good knowledge, appropriate attitude and appropriate protective practices regarding respiratory symptoms among Textile workers, and to determine the association of knowledge, attitude and practices with respiratory symptoms. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 and comprised male workers from 15 Textile Mills in and around Karachi. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used which included questions to explore the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding respiratory symptoms. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study had a sample size of 372 and found prevalence of good knowledge to be in 182 (48.9%) workers and appropriate attitude in 302 (81%), while only 80 (21%) were practising these measures appropriately. Being educated and older than 38 years of age, belonging to Sindhi ethnicity, and working in the weaving section were significant (p 0.05). Conclusions: There was low prevalence of appropriate practices, high prevalence of good knowledge and attitude, indicating an interplay of several other social and environmental factors which need to be explored.

Leslie T Stayner - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • increased lung cancer mortality among chrysotile asbestos Textile workers is more strongly associated with exposure to long thin fibres
    Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2012
    Co-Authors: Dana Loomis, John M Dement, Leslie Elliott, David B Richardson, Eileen D Kuempel, Leslie T Stayner
    Abstract:

    Background Animal data and physical models suggest that the carcinogenicity of asbestos fibres is related to their size and shape. Objectives To investigate the influence of fibre length and diameter on lung cancer risk in workers at asbestos Textile Mills in North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. Methods Men and women (n=6136) who worked ≥30 days in production and were employed between 1940 and 1973 were enumerated and followed for vital status through 2003. A matrix of fibre size-specific exposure estimates was constructed using determinations of fibre numbers and dimensions through analysis of 160 historical dust samples by transmission electron microscopy. Associations of lung cancer mortality with metrics of fibre exposure were estimated by Poisson regression with adjustment for age, sex, race and calendar year. Results Exposure to fibres throughout the range of length and diameter was significantly associated with increased risk of lung cancer. Models for fibres >5 μm long and Conclusions The findings support the hypothesis that the occurrence of lung cancer is associated most strongly with exposure to long thin asbestos fibres. The relationship of cancer risk and fibre dimensions should be examined in cohorts exposed to other types of fibres.

  • letter to the editor comparing milled fiber quebec ore and Textile factory dust has another piece of the asbestos puzzle fallen into place by d wayne berman
    Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2010
    Co-Authors: John M Dement, Leslie T Stayner
    Abstract:

    We read with interest Dr. Berman’s article “Comparing milled fiber, Quebec ore, and Textile factory dust: Has another piece of the asbestos puzzle fallen into place?” (Berman, 2010). We agree with Dr. Berman’s conclusion that sizes of airborne asbestos fibers encountered in asbestos Textile Mills are very different and might entirely explain the discrepancy in the findings between the studies of the Textile workers and miners. However, we do not agree with Dr. Berman’s analyses of our transmission electron microscope (TEM) data for the Charleston, South Carolina, asbestos Textile plant to support his conclusion that airborne fiber size distributions within a given indus trial sector (e.g., Textiles, friction products, cement, etc.) vary little by operation. We believe this conclusion is not consistent with known effects of asbestos Textile produc tion operations, is not supported by prior studies, and is not consistent with results of studies of asbestos Textile

David C Christiani - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • cross shift airway responses and long term decline in fev1 in cotton Textile workers
    American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2008
    Co-Authors: Xiaorong Wang, Ellen A Eisen, Hongxi Zhang, Bixiong Sun, Helian Dai, Jinqing Hang, David C Christiani
    Abstract:

    Rationale: Acute airway response, measured as cross-shift change in FEV1, to cotton dust may lead to subsequent chronic loss of lung function in exposed workers.Objectives: To explore the association between the magnitude and frequency of cross-shift change and chronic loss of FEV1.Methods: Four hundred eight cotton workers and 417 silk workers from Shanghai Textile Mills were observed prospectively for 20 years, with cross-shift measurements at baseline and follow-up surveys at approximate 5-year intervals. To account for repeated measures of 5-year change, generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the relationship between the magnitude of cross-shift change in FEV1 (ΔFEV1) and subsequent 5-year annualized change. Linear regression models were used to examine the association between the number of drops in cross-shift FEV1 (ΔFEV1 < 0) and annualized change over the entire study period.Measurements and Main Results: Exposure to cotton dust was associated with a 10 ml/year decrement in 5-year a...

  • occupational stress and dysmenorrhea in women working in cotton Textile Mills
    International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1995
    Co-Authors: David C Christiani, Tianhua Niu
    Abstract:

    AbstractThe authors conducted a cross-sectional study of 895 never-smoking female Textile workers, aged 20–40 years, employed in three cotton Textile Mills in Anhui Province, China, to assess the association of self-reported occupational stress with dysmenorrhea. Stress was assessed by means of a questionnaire incorporated into a larger, general health survey of Textile workers. Dysmenorrhea was defined as abdominal/pelvic pain during menses. Proportions of no/low, moderate, and high levels of occupationally-related emotional stress among all the subjects were 56%, 23%, and 21%, respectively. The overall prevalence of dysmenorrhea in the population was 59.7%. The adjusted odds ratios of dysmenorrhea for women who had moderaee and high levels of occupational stress relative to those with low levels were 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1–2.2) and 2.3 (95% CI:1.6–3.4), suggesting an exposure-response relationship. The estimated odds ratio based on assigned scores (0, 1, and 2 assigned for no/low, moderate, and high degrees o...

  • cotton dust and gram negative bacterial endotoxin correlations in two cotton Textile Mills
    American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1993
    Co-Authors: David C Christiani, David H Wegman, Ellen A Eisen, Stephen A Olenchock
    Abstract:

    Exposure to cotton dust is known to cause both acute and chronic respiratory illness. A specific pattern of symptoms called byssinosis is well described to occur among workers in the cotton processing (e.g., yarn preparation) industry. Recent studies have implicated Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin as one of the agents responsible for acute, and possibly chronic, respiratory illness. Laboratory experiments using a model cardroom have found poor correlations between airborne dust and associated endotoxin. This study reports the results of vertical elutriated dust and endotoxin levels in 11 work areas of 2 cotton Textile Mills in 1986 in Shanghai, China. The overall correlation between dust and endotoxin was strong, rs = 0.66 and 0.79 (p < 0.0001) for Mills 1 and 2, respectively. The dust-endotoxin correlation was relatively poor in early yarn preparation in the workshops and improved in the later preparation areas. Our findings suggest that in these mill settings, dust and endotoxin levels may be well correlated in most work areas. Therefore, dust may be a useful index for monitoring populations employed in the cotton Textile industry throughout the world. Additional field studies need to be performed which consider the various determinants of dust and endotoxin levels.

Jinliang Kong - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • effect of endotoxin exposure on lung cancer risk in cotton Textile Mills and agriculture a meta analysis
    Translational cancer research, 2016
    Co-Authors: Ke Wang, Yaling Guo, Jinliang Kong
    Abstract:

    Background: To evaluate the relationship between occupational exposure to endotoxin and the risk of lung cancer among workers in cotton Textile Mills and agriculture where high levels of endotoxin are contained. Methods: Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library and Chinese databases before March, 2015. Sources of the heterogeneity were identified through Galbraith radial plots and subgroup analyses. We utilized random effects model to estimate the overall risk and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Fourteen cotton Textile studies and twenty agricultural studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. The pooled relative risk (RR) between endotoxin exposure and lung cancer was 0.94 (0.79–1.11) for Textile workers and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.59–0.84) for agricultural workers. Heterogeneity was existent among agriculture studies ( I 2 97.7%, P=0.000). Significant protective effects were showed in several subgroups of cotton Textile studies as follows: case-control study, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.58–0.84); adjusted for smoking, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.66–0.95); USA, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.47–0.83); morbidity as outcome, 0.84 (95% CI, 0.73–0.97); follow up 11–20 years, 0.89 (95% CI, 0.80–0.99). For agriculture studies, two subgroups by case-control design (RR 1.42; 95% CI, 1.06–1.91) and Asian region (RR 1.74; 95% CI, 1.25–2.43) significantly altered the protective effect of endotoxin. Conclusions: This meta-analysis supported that exposure to high concentrations of endotoxin is associated with decreased lung cancer risk in cotton Textile Mills and agricultural work.

Snehal Bidkar - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • study on employees perception towards hrd climate in Textile Mills
    Social Science Research Network, 2013
    Co-Authors: Snehal Bidkar
    Abstract:

    The opening of the Indian economy in the early 1990s and the consequent changes in the environment have forced Indian organizations to look for better avenues of performance improvement, resulting in a changed perspective for Human Resource Development (HRD) activities in organizations. The emphasis now is more on a wholesale development, which means a more integrated approach towards HRD. This has led to the introduction of HRD climate of organized activities designed to foster increased knowledge, skills, competencies and better behaviors. Purpose – The aim of the study was to measure employees' perception of human resource development (HRD) practices, to explore whether relevant accreditations has lead to any improvements in HRD system, and to examine the role of HRD practices on employees' development climate and quality orientation in the organization. In this context, HRD aims at developing the motivation of the employees to the extent possible, to make them contribute to the organizational goals. The study of HRD climate is very important for all the organization, and Textile sector is not an exception. This paper attempts to study employees’ perception towards HRD climate on the basis of demographic characteristics of employees. The study will lead to the outcomes for the perceived HRD climate which will make to directly contribute to the