Byssinosis has been described among hemp workers in Spain, where it is called cannabosis. The risk of the disease among hemp workers appears to be confined to the processing of soft hemp, which is a fibre from the stem of the plant used for making ropes and twines.
In developing countries the risk of byssinosis is likely to increase. The building of new textile factories to process the natural fibres which they grow in abundance is an important part of their economic expansion.