A study of the clinical profile in patients of ild with emphasis on exposure to cement dust: cement worker’s pneumoconiosis

Background and Objectives: India accounts for 17 percent of the 11 million occupational disease cases and also 17 percent of the 0.12 million global deaths. The pattern of occupational morbidity in India differs from the global scenario, occupational lung diseases form the majority of the work-related morbidity in India. Short term exposure to cement dust leads to irritation of the mucosa leading to increased bronchial muscle tone i.e. hyper-reactiveness and broncho-constriction. Chronic exposure leads to impaired gaseous exchange. The cement dust or constituents of cement causes pathogenesis of various lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer, pneumonia and tuberculosis. This study also highlights the need for awareness so that preventive measures (in the form of gloves, boots, eye goggles and face masks) can be advised early on to the at-risk workers to prevent or halt the disease progression at an early stage.
Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at MVJ MC & RH over a span of 2 years where 51 cases so far presenting to the hospital, diagnosed radiologically to have Interstitial Lung disease were included.
Results: Of the 51 patients evaluated so far, 29 (56.8%) were males and 22 (43.13%) females. And majority of them were above 61 years i.e. 28 patients (54.90%) majority of the patients 40 (78.43%) had been chronically exposed to the inhalational irritants for >20 yrs
Occupationally, 32 (62%) of the patients had a history of chronic exposure to cement dust. most common presenting feature was breathlessness was most common symptom noted in all patients (100%) on examination tachypnea, reduced chest expansion in 38 (74%). chest x-ray, HRCT and spirometry was used in our study .
Conclusion: Long term cement dust exposure and inhalation causes respiratory complications due to epithelial damage Long term exposure to cement dust cause interstitial lung disease, pleural thickening and chronic bronchitis. Due to disproportionate urbanization and boom in construction more cases of cement workers pneumoconiosis is being reported. The main idea of this study is enhance the awareness among high risk workers so that preventive measures (in the form of gloves, boots, eye goggles and face masks) can be taken early to prevent or halt the disease progression at an early stage.