Table 1 Comparison of baseline characteristics and environmental exposure among leavers and active workers.
| Leavers (n = 105) | Active workers (n = 93) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 18.9 (3.6) | 17.9 (2.2) | 0.02 |
| Male, n (%) | 54 (51.4) | 46 (49.5) | 0.78 |
| Mill, n (%) | |||
| 1 | 51 (48.6) | 41 (44.1) | 0.40 |
| 2 | 13 (12.4) | 18 (19.4) | |
| 3 | 41 (39.0) | 34 (36.5) | |
| Cotton type*, n (%) | |||
| 100% cotton | 92 (92.9) | 83 (91.2) | 0.66 |
| Blend | 7 (7.1) | 8 (8.8) | |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 44 (41.9) | 22 (23.7) | 0.007 |
| Past exposure, n (%) | 7 (6.7) | 8 (8.6) | 0.61 |
| Dust concentration (median) (mg/m3) | 1.95 | 2.09 | 0.83 |
| Endotoxin concentration (median) (EU/m3) | 254.60 | 213.74 | 0.89 |
| Atopy†, n (%) | 10 (20.4) | 19 (20.4) | 0.99 |
| Baseline lung function test (n = 186) | |||
| Abnormal, n (%) | 2 (2.0) | 1 (1.2) | 0.56 |
| Pre‐employment symptoms, n (%) | 16 (15.2) | 12 (12.9) | 0.64 |
*n = 190.
†n = 142.