Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of cotton or jute dust in inadequately ventilated working environments and can develop over time with repeated exposure. Byssinosis commonly occurs in textile workers who are employed in yarn and fabric manufacture industries. It is now thought that the cotton dust directly causes the disease and some believe that the causative agents are endotoxins that come from the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria that grow on the cotton. Although bacterial endotoxin is a likely cause, the absence of similar symptoms in workers in other industries exposed to endotoxins makes this uncertain. Current smokers are also at risk for developing byssinosis or having complications relating to byssinosis.Of the 81 byssinosis-related fatalities reported in the United States between 1990 and 1999, 48% included an occupation in the yarn, thread, and fabric industry on their death certificate. This disease often occurred in the times of the Industrial Revolution. Most commonly young girls working in mills or other textile factories would be affected by this disease. In the United States, from 1996 to 2005, North Carolina accounted for about 37% of all deaths caused by byssinosis, with 31, followed by South Carolina (8) and Georgia (7).There is a lack of information regarding the prevalence and impact of byssinosis in low and middle income countries (LMIC) despite the fact that of the 25 million tons of cotton produced worldwide, about two thirds of this production comes from LMICs like India, Pakistan, and China.
Chest radiographs show areas of opacity due to fibrosis of the pulmonary parenchyma.Another form of diagnosis is observing patient symptoms throughout their work shift. Patients with byssinosis due to dust inhalation will experience adverse symptoms when they being their work shift on Monday which is where the term Monday Fever comes in. Treatment
There is currently no official form of diagnosing an individual with byssinosis. Affected workers should be offered alternative employment. Employers in the manufacturing and textile industry should take preventative measures to ensure workers are not exposed to excessive dust and cotton during their work shifts as this is the main cause of byssinosis exposure. Continued exposure leads to development of persistent symptoms and progressive decline in FEV1. Dust control measures can also help reduce the risk of textile workers developing byssinosis.Educational content aimed to raise awareness about byssinosis and other occupational lung diseases can be useful to inform workers and managers in textile industry as well as unions, and other health professionals. Educational content should be based on signs and symptoms of byssinosis as well as other diagnostic measures. See also
Cotton Production
Textile manufacturing
Respiratory Diseases
LCIM

Notes and References
Notes
References
Further reading
Snyder, Rachel Louise (2007). Fugitive Denim: A Moving Story of People and Pants in the Borderless World of Global Trade. W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-06180-2. External links

Byssinosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (NIH)
Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance System (eWoRLD): Work-Related Respiratory Diseases | CDC/NIOSH