Pulmonary functions of wheat flour mill workers and controls in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background The impact of grain dust exposure on lung functions of grain handlers in Nigeria has remained largely undocumented. Lung functions of wheat flourmill workers and control subjects were assessed, and the prevalence of lung function abnormalities was compared among the occupational groups. Methods Study subjects consisted of 91 flour‐millers, 30 matched internal controls from the maintenance unit of the same flourmill factory and 121 matched external controls. A cross‐sectional analytical design is utilized; data were collected using structured interviews, anthropometric measurements, spirometry, and area dust sampling. Results The flour‐millers recorded significantly lower mean lung functions compared with control subjects (P