A Study on Health Status of Women Workers in Textile Industries of Aruppukottai Block
Authors: Boopathiraj K , Balakrishnan P 
Published: May 2023

The textile industry is the second-largest worldwide industry after agriculture. One of the largest textile sectors in the world, the Indian textile industry accounts for roughly 14% of the nation’s overall industrial output. Additionally, it makes up about 3% of the nation’s GDP and significantly increases the amount of foreign exchange the nation earns. With more than 35 million people currently employed, India’s textile industry is also the greatest in terms of employment creation. Industrialization is essential for prosperity and occasionally for a country’s existence. Initialization alone is insufficient; genuine benefits come from workers’ ongoing high performance, which is only made feasible by their good health. Industrial employees are only a small portion of the general population, yet the same factor that affect population health also apply to them The textile industry is the second-largest worldwide industry after agriculture. One of the largest textile sectors in the world, the Indian textile industry accounts for roughly 14% of the nation’s overall industrial output. Additionally, it makes up about 3% of the nation’s GDP and significantly increases the amount of foreign exchange the nation earns. With more than 35 million people currently employed, India’s textile industry is also the greatest in terms of employment creation. Industrialization is essential for prosperity and occasionally for a country’s existence. Initialization alone is insufficient; genuine benefits come from workers’ ongoing high performance, which is only made feasible by their good health. Industrial employees are only a small portion of the general population, yet the same factor that affect population health also apply to them The textile industry is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors for export and has a high labour demand. Numerous individuals in the nation are employed in the textile sector, however in the current environment, it is crucial to place an emphasis on raising awareness of environmental issues like air, water, and noise pollution during the conversion of fibre into fabric. Sorting houses, gins, and gutter sections are all parts of the textile industry. Sorting entails classifying cotton based on quality. In the gin house, the seeds are removed from the cotton and gathered in the gutter. There is a lot of dust in the blow-room where the cotton bales are opened and cleaned. Here, the cotton is repeatedly violently beaten to remove impurities, and then, in the carding area, the cotton laces are dragged by a machine to remove dust, leaves, twigs, and other debris. The carding room is filled with a lot of cotton dust as a result of this procedure. The following step of the project is carried out in the spinning shed, where there is also a lot of dust. A natural fibre called cotton is used to make clothing. When cotton is treated, tiny dust particles are released into the atmosphere. The individual handling the fibre breathes these particles into their lungs, which results in a long-term reduction in respiratory capacity. Brown lung (or byssinosis), a condition caused by exposure to a lot of cotton dust, affects thousands of people working in the textile sector. By inhaling it, textile dust can enter the body, and tiny dust that contains fibres can end up in the alveoli. The fibbers cannot be removed. Lung cancer, fibrosis, pleural plaques, and bronchitis are all caused by the dust that is collected in the lung. After prolonged exposure to textile dust, lung function is compromised. Breathlessness, chest pain, and subsequently bronchitis with increased sputum are the symptoms.