Cotton Dust Exposure During Lint Removal

In the newly established cotton seed lint removal and crushing industry in New South Wales, high concentrations of dust were recorded ranging from 15 to 37 mg/cu m. Sampling was by Greenburg Smith impinger into 10% alcohol, Lung function tests were conducted on employees by McDermott dry spirometer. This instrument records vital capacities and forced expiratory volume per second (FEV1) at the same time. These tests were taken mid-week as most of the operators were on rotating shift, and It was impossible to obtain tests on what was the first day of the person’s shift. Workers exposed to high dust concentrations in the lint removal sections showed a significant fall in FEV1 with exposure, whereas other workers in the same plant not exposed to cotton dust were not affected.