• Occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of bagasse or sugarcane dust
• First reported in India in a cardboard manufacturing firm near Kolkata
• India has a large sugarcane industry
• Sugarcane fiber is utilized in manufacturing of paper, cardboard and rayon
• Bagassosis occurs due to a thermophilic actinomycete k/a Thermoactinomyces sacchari
• Symptoms:
– Breathlessness
– Cough
– Hemoptysis and
– Slight fever
• Acute diffuse bronchiolitis
• Skiagram:
– Mottling in lungs or shadow
• Impairment of pulmonary function tests
• Treatment:
– If treated early: acute inflammatory condition may resolve
– If left untreated, there is diffuse fibrosis, emphysema and bronchiectasis
Bagassosis – Prevention
1. Dust control
– Suppression of dust, e.g. wet process, enclosed apparatus, exhaust ventilation etc.
– Personal protection
– Masks or respirators with mechanical filter or with oxygen or air supply
– Medical control
– Initial medical examination and
– periodical check ups of the worker
– Bagasse control
– Keeping the moisture content above 20%
– Spraying the bagasse with 2% propionic acid (fungicide)
References
• Chapter 1 - Dust: Definitions and Concepts; Hazard Prevention and Control in the Work Environment: Airborne Dust WHO/SDE/OEH/99.14 available at: http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehairbornedust3.pdf, accessed on 16th Feb 2017
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine
Types of Pneumoconiosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/pneumoconioses
Silicosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/silicosis
Anthracosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/anthracosis
Byssinosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/byssinosis
Bagassosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/bagassosis
Asbestosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/asbestosis
Farmer’s Lung: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/farmer%E2%80%99s-lung
Lecture on Pneumoconiosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/category/occupational-health