Dusts cotton

In rats exposed to 15 mg cotton dust/m for 2 h/d for 3 d, the major histologic alteration in the lungs was mucous cell metaplasia with increased amounts of intraepithehal mucosubstances in the surface ep-ithehum hning large-diameter main axial airways (Gordon and Harkema 1995). 

Gossypol (CsoHsoOg) promoted the formation of oxygen radicals when incubated with rat liver mi-crosomes (De Peyster et al. 1984) and induced sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome damage in bone marrow cells in mice (Nayak and Buttar 1986). 

Trimethylolmelamine by condensation with formaldehyde forms a synthetic, which is dried by spraying and put on the market in a micronized form. After inhalation of the merchandise (73.6 mg/1) for various periods (see Table 9) rats showed a marked dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the serous cells in the tracheo-bronchial epithelium (Schiller 1978 Fig. 88). 

As a contribution to the byssinotic effects of cotton seed Duckett and Kennedy (1983) exposed rabbit tracheal explants to gossypol and found a dose dependent (10 M, 5x10 M, 10 M) inhibition of ciliary function. Mitochondria appeared swollen and cristae were disrupted. 

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As measured by the vertical elutriator cotton-dust samples. 

Total frequencies of environmental illness are difficult to measure. When causes can be identified, however, scientists observe that frequencies of occurrence of a particular illness vary directly with the severity and extent of exposure. Particularly frequent in the workplace are skin lesions from many different causes and pulmonary diseases related to the inhalation of various dusts, such as coal dust (black lung), cotton dust (brown lung), asbestos fibers (asbestosis), and silica dust (silicosis). Environmental agents can also cause biological effects without overt clinical illness (for example, chromosome damage from irradiation). 

Lint-free dust as measured by the vertical elutriator cotton-dust sampler described in the Transactions of the National Conference on Cotton Dust, p. 33, J.R. Lynch (May 2, 1970). 

Dry dusts and powders Fine rubber dust, bakelite moulding powder dust, cotton dust, light shavings, soap dust, leather shavings 3000-4000 15-20... 

OTTON DUST IN THE WORKPLACE is a major problem facing the cotton and textile industry. Workers breathing cotton dust may develop byssino-sis, a disease that resembles chronic bronchitis and, in its later stages, emphysema. The agent believed to cause the disease is not actually cotton but microscopic foreign matter in the cotton that is released when bales are processed in the mills. 

A Historical Perspective on Cotton Dust in the United States Textile Industry... 

The American Textile Industry Involvement with cotton dust as a workplace hazard began over ten years ago with Industry studies to determine whether the Industry had such an Illness problem. Then followed major dust removal and ventlllatlon efforts. The Industry developed a work practices and medical surveillance program which was presented to OSHA. 

Late in the 1960 s, speculation about raw cotton dust respiratory problems in the U.S. mills was raised in medical journals stimulating investigation by the textile industry. 

The industry employed the Industrial Health Foundation, an affiliate of the Melon Institute in Pittsburgh, to study the question in 1969. The study covered some twenty companies in four states and no other study either before or since that time covered so many companies(2,). The results clearly indicated that there were some individuals who did suffer some adverse affects when exposed to cotton dust and the government was informed of these findings. 

In further recognition of Industry responsibilities, efforts were made through the American Textile Manufacturers Institute to develop a set of work practices for industry-wide application to diminish the exposure of individual employees to cotton dust hazards. The comprehensive and stringent series of work practices developed were consolidated into a printed booklet in 19730). This publication was distributed widely through the industry. In addition, an industry delegation called on the Secretary of Labor, urging that the recommended practices be established immediately as a mandatory OSHA standardO). This was not done. 

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