Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory

Introduction: Rubber industry is known to have abundant chemicals, mainly solvents, in their working environment. Although the effects of these substances on respiratory health are well known, there is limited local information. This study was aimed to explore the respiratory health status among...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/47738/1/DR.%20NIK%20KHAIROL%20REZA%20BIN%20MD%20YAZIN-24%20pages.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id my-usm-ep.47738
record_format uketd_dc
spelling my-usm-ep.477382020-10-25T03:44:53Z Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory 2006 Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine Introduction: Rubber industry is known to have abundant chemicals, mainly solvents, in their working environment. Although the effects of these substances on respiratory health are well known, there is limited local information. This study was aimed to explore the respiratory health status among workers, solvent exposure in the workplace, level of KAP, and associated factors, which potentially impair the lung function among workers in a tire retreading factory. Methods: In this cross sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to available 95 male production workers to obtain sociodemography, personal and work related information, respiratory symptoms and KAP. Physical examination and lung function test were conducted. Area samplings were done for toluene, benzene and xylene, followed by personal air sampling and urine sampling for toluene. Toluene was selected to be checked because toluene level was highest in area sampling. Result: All participants were Malay with mean (SD) age of 36.6 (6.29) years and median (IQR) working duration was 133.8 (63.53) months. Chest tightness (32.6%) was the commonest symptom followed by phlegm production (27.4%), morning cough (10.5%) and shortness of breath (10.5%). Physical examination revealed normal findings whereas mean (SD) of FVC, FEVt, FEVtiFVC ratio and FEF2s-1s%, were 3.6 (0.56) litre, 2.9 (0.45) litre, 80.4 (7.82) percents and 3.5 (1.52) litre/second, respectively. Known associated factors for lung function such as age, height and weight, and occupational factors such as exposure to dust and work shift were noted to be significantly associated with at least one parameter of lung functions. In KAP assessment, prevalence for bothknowledge level below 80 percent score were 45.3% and 21.1 %, whereas prevalence for attitude level below 70 percent score was 25.3% and prevalence for practice level below 80% score was 89 .5%. In environmental sampling, toluene level was ranged from undetectable to 300 ppm, level of personal sampling ranged from undetectable to 5.5 mg/m3 and range of urine hippuric level was from 0.02 to 3.63 with median (IQR) of0.26 (0.40) gig creatinine. Conclusion: The study demonstrated an evidence of toluene exposure and mild effect on respiratory health among workers. It also revealed the needs for intervention in order to improve KAP in this workplace. 2006 Thesis http://eprints.usm.my/47738/ http://eprints.usm.my/47738/1/DR.%20NIK%20KHAIROL%20REZA%20BIN%20MD%20YAZIN-24%20pages.pdf application/pdf en public masters Universiti Sains Malaysia Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan
institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
collection USM Institutional Repository
language English
topic RA0421 Public health
Hygiene
Preventive Medicine
spellingShingle RA0421 Public health
Hygiene
Preventive Medicine
Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md
Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
description Introduction: Rubber industry is known to have abundant chemicals, mainly solvents, in their working environment. Although the effects of these substances on respiratory health are well known, there is limited local information. This study was aimed to explore the respiratory health status among workers, solvent exposure in the workplace, level of KAP, and associated factors, which potentially impair the lung function among workers in a tire retreading factory. Methods: In this cross sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to available 95 male production workers to obtain sociodemography, personal and work related information, respiratory symptoms and KAP. Physical examination and lung function test were conducted. Area samplings were done for toluene, benzene and xylene, followed by personal air sampling and urine sampling for toluene. Toluene was selected to be checked because toluene level was highest in area sampling. Result: All participants were Malay with mean (SD) age of 36.6 (6.29) years and median (IQR) working duration was 133.8 (63.53) months. Chest tightness (32.6%) was the commonest symptom followed by phlegm production (27.4%), morning cough (10.5%) and shortness of breath (10.5%). Physical examination revealed normal findings whereas mean (SD) of FVC, FEVt, FEVtiFVC ratio and FEF2s-1s%, were 3.6 (0.56) litre, 2.9 (0.45) litre, 80.4 (7.82) percents and 3.5 (1.52) litre/second, respectively. Known associated factors for lung function such as age, height and weight, and occupational factors such as exposure to dust and work shift were noted to be significantly associated with at least one parameter of lung functions. In KAP assessment, prevalence for bothknowledge level below 80 percent score were 45.3% and 21.1 %, whereas prevalence for attitude level below 70 percent score was 25.3% and prevalence for practice level below 80% score was 89 .5%. In environmental sampling, toluene level was ranged from undetectable to 300 ppm, level of personal sampling ranged from undetectable to 5.5 mg/m3 and range of urine hippuric level was from 0.02 to 3.63 with median (IQR) of0.26 (0.40) gig creatinine. Conclusion: The study demonstrated an evidence of toluene exposure and mild effect on respiratory health among workers. It also revealed the needs for intervention in order to improve KAP in this workplace.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md
author_facet Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md
author_sort Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md
title Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
title_short Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
title_full Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
title_fullStr Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
title_full_unstemmed Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
title_sort solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory
granting_institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
granting_department Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan
publishDate 2006
url http://eprints.usm.my/47738/1/DR.%20NIK%20KHAIROL%20REZA%20BIN%20MD%20YAZIN-24%20pages.pdf
_version_ 1747821822908301312