Assessment of dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in medium scale woodwork factories in Ethiopia; a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background Wood dust in a form of inhalable particulates can penetrate the lung tissues and affect respiratory health. Woodwork factory workers are at a greater risk of developing respiratory health problems because of exposure in their working environment, but existing data were few. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms, associated factors, and concentration of personal total wood dust level among medium-scale woodwork factory workers. Methods An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 506 woodwork factory workers. We selected study participants using a simple random sampling technique. We assessed chronic respiratory symptoms using the British Medical Research Council respiratory symptoms questionnaire with a few modifications. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the factors. Forty dust measurements were collected from 20 randomly selected workers using a closed-face cassette (CFC) personal sampler. We analyzed the dust samples gravimetrically using a standard microbalance scale. Results We recruited a random sample of 506 workers in the study with a response rate of 98%. The prevalence of chronic respiratory health symptoms among woodworkers was 69.8% with a prevalence of cough (54.6%), phlegm (52.2%), wheezing (44.6%), breathlessness (42.1%), and chest pain (42.9%). Past occupational dust exposure history (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI; 1.09–4.01), work experience > 5 years (AOR = 9.18, 95% CI; 5.27–16.00), using bio-fuel as energy for cooking (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI; 1.44–4.07), and having no occupational safety and health training (AOR = 3.38, 95% CI; 1.20–9.49) were factors that significantly associated with chronic respiratory symptoms among woodwork workers. The geometric mean (GM) of dust exposure level among woodworkers was 10.27 mg/m3, which exceeded the limit of 10 mg/m3 set by the ACGIH. Conclusions High prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was reported from woodwork factory workers. Increased work- experience, using bio-fuel as an energy source for cooking, past occupational dust exposure history, and having no occupational safety and health training were identified risk factors. The measured average personal wood dust exposure level was above the recommended occupational threshold limit value. Therefore, workers’ wood dust exposure reduction and control methods and respiratory health awareness programs should be implemented.

Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms and Risk Factors Among Street Sweepers in Gondar City Northwest, Ethiopia, 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Respiratory symptoms were more common among street sweepers who had previously worked in cement and flour factory before being hired in the current job, and this finding is consistent with findings in Ethiopia, which stated that workers who had previously worked in a dusty industry before being hired for the current job were approximately twice as likely to develop respiratory symptoms. 25 In this study, respiratory symptoms were higher among street sweepers, who drank alcohol compared to those of non-drinkers, which is consistent with findings in Boston, US, 26 Sweden, 27 and Yugoslavia 28 that respiratory symptoms were significantly associated with alcohol consumption.…”

Evidence of seasonal changes in airborne particulate matter concentration and occupation-specific variations in pulmonary function and haematological parameters among some workers in Enugu Southeast Nigeria: a randomized cross-sectional observational study

“…Work duration has been associated with changes in pulmonary function in woodworkers [42], automobile spray painters [43], cement workers [44] and cleaners (sweepers) [45].…”

Wood dust and asthma

“…A Norwegian study demonstrated that department, task and wood type were the main exposure determinants of wood dust, microbial components, resin acids and terpenes, reporting high levels for boilerman [geometric mean ratio (GMR: 1.31), kiln dryer tasks (GMR 1.25), cleaning in dry timber (GMR 1.15) and planing (GMR 1.12)] [14 ▪ ]. Awoke et al [10] also demonstrated high dust exposures (GM = 10 mg/m 3 ) in sanding and sawing departments of medium scale Ethiopian factories.…”

“…A study of Ethiopian wood workers demonstrated that a history of past wood dust exposure (OR ¼ 2.09, 95% CI 1.09-4.01) and work experience >5 years (OR ¼ 9.0 95% CI 5.3-16.0) were significantly associated with chronic respiratory symptoms among wood workers (Table 2) [10]. This is consistent with other studies of wood workers in India [34] and Iran [36], reporting associations between employment duration and respiratory symptoms and/or lung function decline.…”