Recurrent Indoor Environmental Pollution and Its Impact on Health and Oxidative Stress of the Textile Workers in Bangladesh

Abstract

Perennial indoor environmental pollution in the textile industrial area is a potential health hazard for workers engaged in this line of work, resulting in mental aberration to severe health risks. This study was designed to investigate the indoor environmental quality of textile industries and correlate its effect on the occupational health and well-being of the textile workers by measuring plasma oxidative stress status in textile workers and healthy control subjects. Environmental samples were collected from 15 textile industries located in Dhaka division, and 30 volunteer textile workers and 30 volunteer office workers (control) aged 18 to 57 years participated in the study. The concentration of plasma ascorbic acid (P-ASC), plasma malondialdehyde (P-MDA), and plasma conjugated diene (P-CD) was measured in both groups. The noise level (78.0 ± 0.68 dB) and the formaldehyde level (141.80 ± 4.47 µg/m3) were found to be significantly higher in the indoor environmental area compared with those in the control area (70.17 ± 0.25 dB and 108.0 ± 0.76 µg/m3, respectively). Furthermore, the daily average concentration of suspended particulate matters (PMs), that is, PM2.5 (322.2 ± 13.46 µg/m3) and PM10 (411.0 ± 17.57 µg/m3), was also found to be significantly higher in the indoor environmental air compared with that in the control area (78.59 ± 1.66 and 174.0 ± 2.33 µg/m3, respectively). The levels of P-MDA (0.37 ± 0.03 nmol/L) and P-CD (14.74 ± 0.61 nmol/L) were significantly increased, whereas the level of P-ASC level (0.46 ± 0.04 mg/dL) was markedly decreased in the textile workers compared with the healthy control subjects (0.18 ± 0.01 nmol/L of P-MDA, 10.04 ± 0.44 nmol/L of P-CD, and 1.29 ± 0.06 mg/dL of P-ASC). The textile plants were found to have significantly elevated levels of indoor environmental pollutants compared with those in the control area, and the textile workers were significantly exposed to oxidative stresses compared with the control subjects. The use of noise pads and high-efficiency air filters is perhaps highly instrumental to put an end to this prevailing situation. Moreover, to overcome the oxidative stresses among workers, supplementation of antioxidant vitamins (ie, ascorbic acid and/or vitamin E) may be beneficial. In addition, to prevent serious health-related issues, proper precautions should be taken to protect the occupational health of the textile workers.

A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study on Respiratory Health and Spirometry-Assessed Pulmonary Function Among Textile Workers in Tamil Nadu, India

“…Nevertheless, the current study brought to light the respiratory health hazards of poor indoor working conditions and recommends using personal protective equipment during work time, improving the working environment to meet acceptable standards, providing health education toward following occupational safety measures, and avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits and seeking appropriate health advice. Properly investigating the patient's occupational history is equally important from a healthcare service perspective [ 7 ]. The government laid regulations should also have a considerable focus on the unorganized sector of laborers who have household-run textile manufacturing or other economic activities.…”

Relación entre la exposición a partículas finas del aire interior y las enfermedades respiratorias [Relationship between exposure to fine indoor air particulate matter and respiratory disease]

“…La presente investigación, en conjunto con el estudio de (Rosales et al 2016) y (Rahman & Uddin, 2020), proporcionan una comprensión exhaustiva de los desafíos asociados con la exposición a material particulado y otros contaminantes en el entorno laboral de la industria textil. El estudio (Rosales et al, 2016) destacan que los puestos de costura con máquinas overlock en la fabricación de edredones generan los niveles más altos de material particulado superando en algunos casos los límites permisibles.…”

“…En contraste, el estudio de (Rahman & Uddin, 2020), amplía la perspectiva al examinar la contaminación ambiental en plantas textiles en Bangladesh, se encontraron niveles altos de ruido y formaldehído, además, las concentraciones de partículas en el aire, PM2.5 y PM10, fueron mayores entre las actividades de confección, vinculándose con problemas de salud, como el estrés oxidativo, en los trabajadores. Este enfoque resalta la conexión entre la exposición a contaminantes y los impactos en la salud de los empleados.…”

The Structural Influence of Airborne Particles on their Toxicity

“…The Textile and Clothing sector (T&C) is an important part of the European manufacturing industry, with over 1.5 million employees. Sources of particulate pollution are emissions from the spinning preparation (blow room, carding), combing and woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and non-woven fabrics manufacturing that form a suspension, which over time settles on each surface [8].…”