Respiratory Disability In Chittar Stone Mine Workers Of Western Rajasthan

A total of 200 Chittar Stone Mine Workers of Western Rajasthan were studied clinically, radiographically and expirographically to detect respiratory disability in them. Equal number of non-smoking healthy individuals were taken as control subjects. Clinical symptoms in the form of cough (53%). dyspnoea (21%) and pain chest (22.5%) were present in 53 per cent of stone mine workers. Radiological evidence of pneumoconiosis was evident in 106 (53%) subjects, obstructive (43%), restrictive (2%) and mixed (13%) ventilatory disorders were seen in 58 percent of the workers. Duration of exposure was the most important factor in prediction of disability in them. However, complete assessment of disability requires a multifactorial approach.