BRICK KILN INDUSTRY AND WORKERS’ CHRONIC RESPIRATORY HEALTH PROBLEMS IN MIT GHAMR DISTRICT, DAKAHLIA GOVERNORATE | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||
| Article 2, Volume 39, Issue 1, January 2015, Pages 37-51 PDF (178.17 K) | ||
| Document Type: Study paper | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2015.809 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Sheta S; El Laithy N | ||
| Department of Community, Environmental & Occupational Medicine,Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: Brick manufacturing industry is an old and important industry in Egypt. It involves three main steps: clay shaping with water (molding), drying with solar energy and firing with fuel (baking). Aim of work: To study the respiratory health problems among workers engaged in brick kiln industry. Materials and Methods: a comparative cross sectional study was conducted among 173 male brick kilns workers in Mit Ghamr District, Dakhlia Governorate. A control group of 170 seller men matched with the exposed brick kilns workers were included for comparison. After dust sampling in the brick kiln factories, the included persons were subjected to: 1-a modified pre-constructed questionnaire inquiring about: socio-demographic data, detailed occupational history, present history of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and relevant past and smoking history 2-pulmonary function test 3- Environmental assessment of the working place. Results: measured mean dust concentration from 10 factories was 31.2 mg/m3 exceeding the permitted level in the Egyptian work law 2003 (10mg/m3). This study showed that brick kilns workers had significant higher frequency of chronic respiratory problems compared to their control group and the most common chronic respiratory symptoms among them were chronic cough followed by dyspnea, chest wheeze chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Moreover, 39.91% of brick kilns workers were complaining of more than one respiratory symptom compared to 11.70% among their control group. A significant increase of chronic respiratory problems in brick kilns workers ≥10 years work duration was detected compared to the workers 5-10 years. All ventilatory lung function measurements of brick kilns workers were significantly lower than that of their control group. Regarding the smoking habits, this study showed that there was a significant higher prevalence of chronic respiratory health problems among smoking workers (60.91%). Conclusion and Recommendations: A significant high prevalence of respiratory problems was found among brick kiln workers especially the bakers, smokers, and those >10 years work duration. For safe work environment, we recommend for developing the brick kilns sector under supervision of Ministry of Industry and Environment, recent technology transfer, substitution by natural gas and enforcement for using personal protective equipments. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Keywords: Brick kiln-Respiratory problems- Smoking-Respiratory functions tests-Duration of work | ||
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