Factory System · World History

What was a frequent health hazard for workers in early textile factories?

  1. Exposure to extreme cold in the unheated winter months
  2. Lung diseases from breathing in cotton dust (lint)
  3. Injuries from radiation used to clean fabrics
  4. Hearing damage from constant exposure to loud factory machinery
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Correct answer: Lung diseases from breathing in cotton dust (lint)

Factories were poorly ventilated and filled with fine particles of cotton. Workers, especially children, often developed chronic respiratory issues such as 'brown lung' from years of exposure.

Difficulty: Medium Question 15 of 20

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