DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i02.023

Pages: 646-649

The textile industry is one of the oldest and second largest industries in the world. So, power loom provides a major source of employment to the rural people in India. It also plays a magnificent role in the socio-economic development of a society. The power loom workers can be exposed to dust, generated from the textile products in various stages during the textile manufacturing process. Numerous epidemiological studies have documented decrements in pulmonary function and various other health problems associated with long-term air pollution exposure. The power loom workers are generally at risk due to constant exposure to different types of pollutants emitted from the industries. The study was designed to compare the peak expiratory flow rate among power loom and non power loom workers in rural area in Salem district. 500 subjects between the age group of 30-70 years who volunteered to enroll for the study were selected. It included 250 power loom workers and 250 non power loom workers. in a rural area in Salem district. Peak expiratory flow rate was measured by using Wrights peak flow meter. The result shows decreased PEFR in power loom workers compared to non power loom workers. This present study may be used to know the hazards of cotton exposure and this study may also be used to prevent the occupational hazards in Power loom workers by using the preventive measures of decreased exposure to work by shift method, proper ventilation, using mask while working time, and routine physical examination for every one year.