Results of the Evaluation of the Respiratory Condition of Permanent Workers in an Oil Mill in Benin ()
1. Introduction
The cotton industry employs thousands of workers in several countries around the world who are also exposed to various occupational hazards depending on the company’s mission, the position held and the measures of prevention in place. Occupational exposure to dusts and gases can impair lung function [1]. Numerous studies have shown the effects of cotton dust on lung function in cotton mill and cotton gin workers [2] [3]. However, there are few data on the prevalence of respiratory disorders in non-textile industries such as cotton oil mills, where high levels of dust exposure have been demonstrated [4] [5]. Indeed, cotton seeds from the ginning process are sent to oil mills for oil extraction after processing. In general the production process of cottonseed oil can be summarized as follows: weighing and storage of cotton seeds, ginning, cooking, pressing, flattening, flaking, extraction, neutralization, decolorization, deodorization, storage of oil in bulk, storage in drums, storage of packaged oil, granulation, bagging, storage of cake in bags. This process generates a considerable amount of dust in the working environment and exposed to chemicals [4]. A study by Bakirci N et al. showed a variation in the ventilation function of workers before and after shift work in cottonseed oil mills in Turkey and the influence of smoking like the main risk factor for having respiratory symptoms [6]. Jones et al. showed similar results [7]. The main end products from seed processing are oil for human consumption, shells for farm animal feed and lint as an industrial source of paper and cellulose. During extraction, chemicals such as solvents are used that increase the respiratory risk for some workers assigned to these specific tasks [8]. Hexane is the most commonly used solvent for these operations. In addition to lung irritation on acute exposure, n-hexane can cause ventilatory disorders on sub chronic exposure [9]. Benin is one of the main exporters of cotton in West Africa and has several ginning mills and two cottonseed oil mills and cottonseed oil is very present in Beninese cuisine. Respiratory symptoms prevalence in textile workers was 36.9% [10] and in ginning mill ventilator troubles prevalence was (26.9%) [11] but data are not available on respiratory disorders in cottonseed oil mills. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory problems in workers in one cottonseed oil mill in the south of Benin.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
This is a cross-sectional—sectional study of 52 permanent workers. The study took place in January 2017 as part of the workers’ annual medical visits.
2.2. Description of the Workplace
The study took place in one cotton seed oil mill in the south of Benin. The mill has two parts: an in-line production area and an administrative area. The line production area has many personal workstations. Throughout the line production area, there are traces of cottonseed dust, but it is more prominent in silage, shoveling, heating. Workers in the laboratory, extraction, neutralization, decolorization, and deodorization areas may also be exposed to chemicals such as hexane by inhalation, despite the presence of a negative air pressure system used when handling this product. In the mill, there were two types of workers, casual and permanent. The casual workers were dependent on another company that had a contract with the mill. The permanent workers were directly responsible to the factory management. Our study was limited to permanent workers. In the assembly line sector, permanent workers changed workplaces after a certain period of time, with the exception of laboratory workers who changed only within the laboratory. The two main respiratory exposures in the production sector were cottonseed dust and chemicals. Production line workers were also exposed to machine noise, which can accelerate lung disease. Production workers worked in rotating shifts: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. They worked as technicians in the laboratory, electricity, mechanics, etc. The workers in the administrative sector were not directly exposed to cotton dust or chemicals. Some of them worked in offices as accountants, financiers, secretaries, administrators; the others were clerks, drivers, storekeepers, etc. Most of them worked during normal daylight hours.
2.3. Study Population
A census was done. The inclusion criteria were: have a permanent contract with the mill, have age ≥ 18 years; to be in the mill since 2 years.
2.4. Data Collection
All workers were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was administered in a face-to-face interview to collect demographic data, work history, respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, wheezing, and shortness of breath), and smoking history. Workers who reported respiratory symptoms were defined as symptomatic, and those with no respiratory symptoms were defined as asymptomatic. For smoking history, workers were classified into smokers (current and ex-smoker) and non-smokers. A physical examination was performed to collect vitals (oxygen saturation, weight, height, blood pressure) and pulmonary auscultation disturbances. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified as normal, overweight and obese. Lung function tests (LFTs) were performed by a qualified physician using a portable spirometer (MIR Spirobank II) according to the recommendations of the American Thoracic Society [6]. A minimum of three acceptable tests were performed on each worker. A test was defined as acceptable if the worker showed no signs of hesitation at the start of the measurement, did not cough or hesitate during the maneuvers, there was no leakage from the mouthpiece, and the exhalation lasted at least 6 seconds. Spirometry measures concerned: Forced expiratory volume (FEV1); Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory flow at 25% and 75% (FEF25-75%); Point expiratory flow (PEF). Spirometry results were interpreted by an occupational physician and a pulmonologist. The ventilatory disorders were defined by comparing the spirometry measurements before the start of work with the upper and lower limit values of the theoretical value. Thus we distinguish:
Normal spirometry: LIN ≤ FEV1 ≤ ULN and LIN ≤ CVF ≤ ULN and LIN ≤ FEV1/CVF ≤ ULN;
An obstructive ventilatory disorder (OVD): FEV1/FVC < LIN and LIN ≤ FVC ≤ ULN;
A probable restrictive ventilatory disorder (RVD): FVC < LIN and LIN ≤ FVC ≤ LSN;
A probable mixed ventilatory disorder (MVD) which is a combination of probable obstructive and restrictive ventilatory disorders.
A pulmonary X-ray was done to each worker. The investigator responsible for the radiological interpretation had no knowledge of the exposure state of the test subjects.
2.5. Statistical Methods
The entire process was carried out in the same way during data collection. Data were entered and analyzed using Epidata software. Significance of univariate differences was assessed by the chi-squared test for categorical variables. A P-value of 0.05 was considered significant.
2.6. Ethical Considerations
Free and informed consent was obtained from the workers before their inclusion in the study. The data were treated anonymously and confidentially. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.
3. Results
3.1. Characteristics of Workers
A total of 52 permanent workers were included among the 58 workers of the mill. Six permanent workers were not included because do not meet inclusion criteria. The majority, 43 (83%) of workers were male. The average age was 42.7 ± 6.4 years. Almost half of the workers; 27 (52) was older than 42 years. A total of 30 (58%) were in technical production positions versus 22 (42%) in administrative positions. Most of them; 29 (56%) had more than 10 years of seniority. Regarding work schedules, 38.5% of the workers worked rotating shifts and 61.5% worked regular day shifts. As clinical history it was found in 30 production workers vs. 22 administration workers the following health problems; smoking 1 vs. 0; overweight 14 (46.6) vs. 13 (59); hypertension 6 (20) vs. 6 (27.2); atopic 7 (23.3) vs. 10 (45.5). Table 1 presents characteristics of the workers interviewed.
3.2. Respiratory Symptoms
The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was 6 (11.5%) represented mainly by cough: 4 (7.7%); chest pain: 3 (5.7%) and dyspnea: 2 (3.8%), phlegm: 1 (2%). The
![]()
Table 1. Characteristics of cottonseed oil mill workers, Bénin, 2017; (N = 52).
*P < 0.05.
![]()
Table 2. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms of cottonseed oil mill workers, Bénin, 2017; (N = 52).
prevalence of respiratory symptoms in production workers was 4 (13%) compared with 2 (9%) in administrative workers. There was no statistically significant difference between the presence of respiratory symptoms and factors such as age, length of service, hypertension and BMI. However, the proportions of respiratory symptoms were higher in production workers and those under 42 years of age. The typical profile of the respiratory symptomatic worker in the oil mill was a male under 42 years of age with less than 10 years of service, non-smoker, non-hypertensive, non-obese working in the production sector. The SaO2 was abnormal (less than 95%) in 4 (7.7%) workers. Table 2 sums up the respiratory symptoms among cotton-seed workers
3.3. Spirometer and Chest X-Ray Results
Interpretation of the spirometry results showed that 38 (73.1%) were completely normal, 6 (11.5%) had mild spirometry abnormalities but were still considered to be in the normal range, and 8 (15.4%) were clearly abnormal. Of the 8 individuals with abnormal spirometry, 4 had an obstructive syndrome, 3 had a restrictive syndrome, and 1 individual had a mixed pattern.
There were 5 (16.6%) workers in production vs. 3 (13.6%) in administration who have abnormal spirometry.
Considering the spirometry parameters separately we observed that in total, 6 (11.5%) of the workers had a loss of FEV1 between 5% and 10% of their theoretical values, 13 (25%) a loss between 10% and 20% of FEV1 and 4 (7.6%) a loss of more than 20% with no statistically significant difference according to the work-place. For the PEF, 6 (11.5%) workers had a loss between 5% and 10% of their theoretical values, 13 (25%) a loss between 10% and 20% and 13 (25%) a loss of more than 20% with no statistically significant difference according to the work-place. Regarding the FEF2575, there was a statistically significant difference between the means of production workers and administration workers. This difference is maintained despite the exclusion of subjects with a history of asthma symptoms before they began working in the company. A loss over 40% of their theoretical values was observed for 8 (15%). After exclusion of workers with a personal history of asthma, the results were the same.
Of the 52 workers, 8 (15%) had a chest X-ray abnormality (bronchial syndrome). Abnormal chest X-ray were 5 (17%) in production workers compared to 3 (14%) in administration workers. Table 3 and Table 4 summed up the results.
![]()
Table 3. Results of lung function and chest X-ray of cottonseed oil mill workers, Bénin, 2017; (N = 52).
*P < 0.05.
![]()
Table 4. Means of lung function without workers with asthma before starting job of cottonseed oil mill workers, Bénin, 2017; (N = 48).
*P < 0.05.
4. Discussion
This study is the first to explore respiratory disorders in cottonseed oil mill workers in Benin. Its limitation is the inclusion of only permanent workers because of their accessibility, not taking into account casual workers despite the fact that they are more exposed to cotton dust because of the tasks they are assigned.
The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher in production workers than in administrative workers, with no statistically significant difference between them. This result is similar to that of Bakirci N et al. in Turkey, who found no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in workers exposed to cotton dust in an oil mill compared to a group of non-exposed workers [6]. However, the overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher (50%) than ours (11.5%). The prevalence of respiratory symptoms such as cough, phlegm, dyspnea obtained in this study were all lower than those observed by Ade et al. [11] in ginning mills in northern Benin, and Hinson et al. in textile mills in the same country [10].
The difference between the prevalence of symptoms in workers exposed to cotton dust but in different sectors: ginning, oil mills, textiles is certainly related to the production processes and the level of exposure to cotton dust. Indeed, the textile sector remains the most at risk due to exposure to finer particles. In this study, the level of exposure to airborne contaminants differs according to the type of workplace. In addition, the current workers, being all permanent employees, are more in a supervisory position than in a position of performing different tasks and subtasks.
The total prevalence of ventilatory disorders (obstructive, restrictive and mixed) was 15.4%, with no significant difference by workplace. This prevalence is low compared to the 26.9% obtained by Ade et al. in ginning mills [11]. In the study of Hinson et al., 44% of the workers in the textile sector had a loss of more than 20% of FEV1 compared to 9% in our study [10]. These differences are explained by the types of processes in each sector.
The mean values of spirometry parameters such as FEV1, PEF and FVC are similar in the production and administration sectors, with the exception of FEF2575 which is lower in production workers compared to administration workers. The degree of loss also appears to be similar in the two groups. This result is not expected and reflects the fact that administrative workers are not good comparators in this study because they share the same general work environment as production workers. Indeed, many studies have shown the direct effect of cotton dust exposure in the decline of ventilatory functions and the development of byssinosis [12] [13]. On the other hand, for some, in the case of oil mills, “cotton dust” is not necessarily a “byssinogenic” dust, but it is capable of producing effects on ventilatory functions similar to those produced by cotton fiber dust [14]. A future large-scale study including casual workers is important to further explore this issue in cottonseed oil mill workers in Benin.
5. Conclusion
Oil mill workers show few respiratory symptoms. However, workers in the production sector have more ventilatory problems than those in administration. Therefore, spirometry monitoring of this group of workers is necessary.
Acknowledgements
Our thanks go to the managers and workers of the oil mill.
Appendices