Byssinosis in the United States

Abstract

BYSSINOSIS is an occupational respiratory disease of cotton, flax and hemp workers. Its initial symptoms of tightness in the chest, dyspnea and cough shortly after return to work on Mondays, after an absence from work during the weekend, are characteristic and stereotyped. The symptoms are accompanied by a decrease of ventilatory capacity during the working day. Later, symptoms may extend to other workdays, and finally there is severe and continuous dyspnea, chronic cough and permanent ventilatory insufficiency. Total disability and death may follow. In the cotton industry, byssinosis occurs primarily among cardroom workers. The acute, reversible effects of cotton dust . . .