Available online Aug 21, 2025.

[ Original ] Volume 31, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 751-765

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Abstract

 

The clothes/clothing industry is a fast-growing business with increasing number of people engaged in the sales or distribution of its products. Most studies on pulmonary health following exposure to textiles have concentrated on workers in the factories/industries. Workers in these industries have been reported severally to have pulmonary function impairment and other pulmonary diseases. There is however paucity of information on the pulmonary function of traders involved in the sale of the textile products (clothings), hence this study. Lung function indices were evaluated in the standing position by spirometry on 132 male fabric dealers and same number of age-matched male controls. The results showed no significant differences in the ages and anthropometric parameters (height, weight, chest circumference, body mass index) between fabric dealers and control groups. Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), forced expiratory volume in one second expressed as a percentage of forced vital capacity (FEV_I%), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow were significantly (p<0.001) reduced in the test compared with the control subjects. There were no correlations between the lung function indices and duration in fabric sales.  The concentrations of gases (carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds) and particulate matter (PM 1.5, Pm 2.5 and Pm 10) in the ambient air of fabric shops and control sites were not significantly different. We therefore conclude that chronic exposure to fabrics could be associated with derangement in pulmonary function indices.

 

Keywords

Lung function indices, clothes/clothing, dealers,

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