Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to investigate the health effects following exposure to
the dust of occupational origin in rice millers. This study was carried out in Divulapitiya in
the Western Province of Sri Lanka where rice milling is the main industry. The sample was
selected from among the rice millers within the study area by random methods. The control
group consisted of workers from the same residential area who were not exposed to rice
milling dust or other of occupational origin known to cause adverse effects. The control
group was matched with the study group according to age , sex ethnicity and socioeconomic status and the two groups were almost similar in all respects. A comparative study
of the prevalence of selected respiratory and other disorders was done in the two groups.
The study consisted of an administered questionnaire , clinical examination, laboratory
tests, chest x-rays and peak expiratory flow measurements taken during and after the work
shifts . Of the respiratory disorders bronchial asthma was the predominant condition that
affected rice millers. After commencing their present employment 21.5 of the rice millers
developed bronchial asthma while only 8 percent of the controls developed it. Among
those who gave a previous history of atopic symptoms, 53.6 of the rice millers had
developed bronchial asthma at the time they were examined while 36.5 percent of those
among the control group had it. Among those who smoked daily, the prevalence of
bronchial asthma was significantly higher in the millers (25.8 than in those in the control
group ( 14.1) . It was also noted that 25.8 among the rice millers who smoked daily were
asthmatics, whereas only 13.9 among the non - smoking rice millers were asthmatics. The
prevalence of bronchial asthma increased with the duration of exposure to rice milling.
Among the non -respiratory disorders the prevalence of purities and eye irritation after their
present employment was significantly higher in rice millers, when compared with the
control group. The adverse health effect were seen in the lungs, eyes and the skin of the rice
millers. They were bronchial asthma in 121.5 dry cough over three in 9.1 , eye irritation in
18 percent and purities in 50
