M10 Blog about an occupationally-related disease

 An occupationally-related disease

There are a number of classic occupational diseases. Byssinosis (Brown Lung), Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung), Asbestosis (White Lung) are among them. Each of these diseases still affects many workers today. Over the years there have been major public health campaigns to address them. Organized labor has often lead the campaigns.

Select one of these diseases and search the web to learn about the history of the public health campaigns and the current status of the disease and related occupational health policies. (What are the OSHA or MSHA regulations regarding the exposures that cause the disease that you selected to review?) Feature a short blurb on your blog regarding your selected occupationally-related disease.

Byssinosis (Brown Lung)

Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease that primarily affects workers in cotton processing, hemp or flax industries. Other names for byssinosis include Monday fever, brown lung disease, mill fever or cotton workers’ lung. Byssinosis causes an asthma-like breathing difficulty, usually at the beginning of the workweek and improves as the workweek progresses or dust exposure stops. Prolonged exposure may cause lung damage that resembles irreversible chronic obstructive lung disease.

History of the public health campaigns:

It is estimated that the prevalence rate of byssinosis among cotton textile workers was approximately 20% in the early 1970’s. The completion of studies confirming these rates and OSHA’s announcement of regulatory activities led some firms to lower exposures leading to an estimated prevalence rate of 12% just before OSHA issued the Cotton Dust Standard in 1978.

Current status of the disease:

The ‘‘Regulatory Review of OSHA’s Cotton Dust Standard, September 2000,’’ (the most recent review) indicates: that the standard has reduced byssinosis rates from 12% to 1%; that the standard cost one-quarter to one-half of various estimates and increased productivity; that the standard does not impose a significant impact on small business; and that public commenters agree that the standard should remain in effect. Based on this review, OSHA concluded that the Cotton Dust Standard should be continued without change except that the washed cotton partial exemption to the standard should be expanded based on new studies and recommendations from industry, unions and government experts.

OSHA/MSHA regulations regarding the exposures that cause the disease:

The OSHA regulations regarding the exposures that cause Byssinosis (Brown Lung) include: Cotton Dust Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1043. The Cotton Dust Standard sets maximum permissible exposure limits (PELs) for cotton dust which vary by operation. It also includes requirements for monitoring, medical surveillance, work practices and other requirements. Additionally, it includes partial exemptions for the processing of cotton washed according to various protocols which greatly reduce the cotton’s biological reactivity. Certain sections of the industry, such as knitting, are partially or completely exempt from the standard because those sections do not present significant risk of byssinosis.

References:

·    American Lung Association. Byssinosis. Retrieved from: http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/byssinosis/

·    United States Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/laws-regs/federalregister/2000-12-07-1.pdf