Yazin, Nik Khairol Reza Md
(2006)
Solvent exposure and respiratory health status among workers in a tire retreading factory.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
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.
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