Title: Occupational Tasks Influencing Lung Function Status and Respiratory Health Problems among Brass Utensils Factory Worker
Author: Dr Nusaer Chowdhury
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i9.30
Abstract
The brass metal workers are affected by the flakes of brass during making of brass made utensils that causes the decrement as well as impairments of pulmonary functions. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the pulmonary function status and respiratory health problems of the workers engaged in manufacturing of brass made utensils and polishing. A standard questionnaire was followed to note the symptoms, like cough, breathlessness and chest tightness, etc. The study was carried out at Dhamrai upazilla in the district of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The pulmonary function status assessment was done by spirometric method using electronic hand held spirometer by CONTEC SO10. Among total 113 respondents, 9.7% were suffering from cough with phlegm for 3 months or more, about 96% were suffering from wheezing with shortness of breath, about 39.9% were suffering from breathlessness during walking fast. Respiratory problems by family history was found statistically not significant. Respiratory health problem by FVC and FVA1 values in respondents of different age group, different duration of work, smoking habit was found to be statistically not significant. The respiratory function impairments among the brass made utensil workers might be due to their exposure in to the work environment. Proper training and education should be provided to workers about the health hazards associated with exposure to irritant gas and the proper use of respiratory protection.
Keywords: Lung Function Status, Respiratory Health Problems, Brass Utensils.
References
- Pandya, D.H. and Ghumra, J., 2016. Recent and Futuristic Ayurveda Science.
- World Health Organization, 2002. Occupational health: a manual for primary health care workers.Design by John Shimwell.
- Jayawardana, P.L., De Alwis, W.R. and Fernando, M.A., 1997. Ventilatory function in brass workers of Gadaladeniya, Sri Lanka. Occupational medicine, 47(7), pp.411-416.
- Logue, J.N., Koontz, M.D. and Hattwick, M.A., 1982. A historical prospective mortality study of workers in copper and zinc refineries. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 24(5), pp.398-hyhen.
- Palmer, K.T., Cullinan, P., Rice, S., Brown, T. and Coggon, D., 2009. Mortality from infectious pneumonia in metal workers: a comparison with deaths from asthma in occupations exposed to respiratory sensitizers. Thorax
- Ross, M.H. and Murray, J., 2004. Occupational respiratory disease in mining. Occupational medicine, 54(5), pp.304-310.
- Kuo, H.W., Chang, C.L., Liang, W.M. and Chung, B.C., 1999. Respiratory abnormalities among male foundry workers in central Taiwan. Occupational medicine, 49(8), pp.499-505.
- Kusaka, Y., Yokoyama, K., Sera, Y., Yamamoto, S., Sone, S., Kyono, H., Shirakawa, T. and Goto, S., 1986. Respiratory diseases in hard metal workers: an occupational hygiene study in a factory. Occupational and Environmental Medicine,43(7), pp.474-485.
- Ostiguy, G., Vaillancourt, C. and Begin, R., 1995. Respiratory health of workers exposed to metal dusts and foundry fumes in a copper refinery. Occupational and environmental medicine,52(3), pp.204-210.
- Rees, D. and Murray, J., 2007. Silica, silicosis and tuberculosis [State of the Art Series. Occupational lung disease in high-and low-income countries, Edited by M. Chan-Yeung. Number 4 in the series]. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 11(5), pp.474-484.