RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Respiratory disease in tea workers in Sri Lanka. JF Thorax JO Thorax FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society SP 114 OP 117 DO 10.1136/thx.35.2.114 VO 35 IS 2 A1 C G Uragoda YR 1980 UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/35/2/114.abstract AB Blending of different grades of tea is a very dusty process which exposes workers to a fine fluff. One hundred and twenty-five tea blenders with an average service of 22.9 years in the industry were interviewed according to a standard questionnaire, and submitted to a clinical and radiographical examination. The examination was repeated eight and 31 months later. A total of 46 workers (36%) had respiratory illness, 31 had chronic bronchitis (24.8%), eight had asthma (6.4%), and seven had active or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (5.6%). The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and asthma was more than that expected in the general population. It is suggested that these two conditions are aetiologically related to long-term exposure to tea fluff.