Exposure to PM10 and respiratory health among welders of metal working factory in Seri Kembangan, Selangor

Aziz, Nur Aida (2012) Exposure to PM10 and respiratory health among welders of metal working factory in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Summary: Background: Welding fume exposure in the workplace is a serious occupational hazard and about 800,000 welders are employed full time worldwide. Welding is the process of joining metal part in which the surface layers of the metals are in most cases heated to fusion, with or without pressure. It is one of the key components of numerous metal working industries which potentially have physical and chemical health hazards. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between personal exposure to PM10 and lung functions as well as respiratory symptoms among welders of metal working factory and office workers as comparative group. Methodology: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 33 welders working at metal working factory and 43 office workers as comparative group. A purposive sampling method was used to select on the respondents based on inclusive criteria such as male, age range between 18 to 45 years, no past history of chronic lung disease, and at least 1 year experienced on working. Questionnaire based on ATS was used to collect information on socio-demographic and respiratory symptoms. The lung function test was also performed using Chestgraph HI -101 as well as measured their personal PM 10 exposure using GillAir Pump. Result: The mean exposure level of PMIO among welder was 444.9 µg/m3 ± 198.4 compared to only 116.4 µg/m3 ± 9.81 among the comparative group. There was significant different in FVC (liter) with z = -2.93, P =0.03, FEV I (liter) with z = -3.10, p = 0.02, FVC% predicted z = -3.15,p = 0.02 and FEV predicted with z = ¬3.81,p < 0.00 I between the exposed group and comparative group. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among exposed group compared to comparative group for chronic cough (O.R = 6.67, 95% CI 1.68-26.5, P = 0.003), Chronic phlegm (O.R 13.2,95% CI 3.83-45.7,p<0.001) and chest tightness ( O.R = 24, 95% CI = 2.92-197.2, p0.05) between lung function with the level of PM10 and duration of employment. The logistic regression showed that exposure to PM10 can increase risk of chronic cough and exposed group is one of the factors contributing to significant risk of chronic cough, chronic phlegm and chest tightness even after adjusted for smoking. Conclusion: Results from this study found that exposure to respirable particle PM10 can increase risk of respiratory health by shows the reduction in lung function and increase prevalence of respiratory symptom among welders.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2022 06:21
Last Modified:	14 Feb 2024 03:22
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/177

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