Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in traditional grain market workers in Casablanca and assessment of sensitivization levels

Our study proposes to evaluate the prevalence of clinical respiratory sympt oms, spirometric abnormalities and allergy skirt test sensitivities in two groups: on exposed to grain dust in a big traditional grain market in Casab lanca and rite other unexposed. The inquiry which concerned 277 exposed workers and 230 non exposed consist ed of a questionnaires, spirometric examinations and skin prick testings. Exposed and no exposed groups are statically similar as far as physical dat a (sex, age, weight, height) and smoking habits. The atopy was found among 18% of the exposed. The prevalence of clinical respiratory symptomatology a mong exposed is 64,3% against 24,8% among lion exposed. Respiratory symptom s (cough, expectoration), rhinitis, asthma, 'conjonctivitis, dermatitis, ch ronic bronchitis were significantly more frequent in those exposed than in the non exposed. Smoking is at the origin of additional morbidity Atopy see ms to be a potentiating factor as all the atopic people exposed are symptom atic. Respiratory function was altered in 37,1% of those exposed versus 12, 8% of those no exposed. Among exposed workers with decline of lung function parameters 68,9% have only light anomalies. Tabacco interferes significant ly in the alteration of respiratory function parameters. Work exposure to g rain associated with smoking resulted in a reduction in respiratory functio n values. In grain workers, the prevalence of allergy skin test sensitiviti es of occupational allergens is 30,3% versus 6,9% among those ilo exposed. The enquiry in the workplace shows complete absence of means of protection protection for the work force and elevated levels of dust. It is imperative to implement nit occupational health service and to develop means for coll ective and individual prevention to maximally reduce the risk.