Respirable dust exposure (pm2 5) and respiratory health among male quarry workers, Kelantan
Exposure to workplace dust is a common problem associated with respiratory illnesses and has been an area of research interest for the last decades. A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the association of respirable dust exposure (PM25) and respiratory health among male quarry wor...
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| Format: | Monograph |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Sains Malaysia
2016
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/62243/ http://eprints.usm.my/62243/1/NUR%20FARAHANI%20BINTI%20JAMAL%20-%20e.pdf |
| Summary: | Exposure to workplace dust is a common problem associated with respiratory illnesses
and has been an area of research interest for the last decades. A cross sectional study
was carried out to determine the association of respirable dust exposure (PM25) and
respiratory health among male quarry workers. This study was conducted among 50
male quarry workers and 50 male administrative workers. The investigation included
spirometric testing and detailed personal interviews using structured questionnaire
adopted from British Medical Research Council (BMRC) Questionnaire on respiratory
symptom. Personal exposure of respirable dust was measured among the quarry
workers by using TSI SidePak™ AM510. The mean personal monitoring of respirable
dust among exposed group was higher at grinding bunker section (0.26±0.26 mg/m3).
This result exceeding permissible exposure limits (PEL) (0.10mg/m3) 8 hours Time
Weighted Average (TWA-8h) according to US Occupational Safety and Health
Administrative (OSHA) and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
2002. Respiratory symptoms reported by male quarry workers were phlegm (46.0%,
n=50), dyspnea (36.0%, n=50), cough (32.0%, n=50) and chest tightness (22.0%,
n=50). Age had significant relationship with the dyspnea (Adj OR: 1.564, Cl 95%:
1.049, 2.333). There was a significant different of %FEV1/FVC between quarry workers
and control group. Smoking was significantly associated with FVC (b=-0.412, p<0.05)
while age was significantly associated with FEV, (b=-0.026, p<0.05) and %FEV1/FVC
(b—0.416, p<0.05). In conclusion, there was no association between respirable dust
exposure (PM2.5) and respiratory health among the quarry workers. However,
improvement on engineering control and work practices modifications should be done
to reduce exposure of respirable dust to safe personal exposure. |
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