No abstract

Production of natural rubber can have a detrimental effect on health. Hazardous pollution products from natural rubber industry are ammonia and sulfides which can be in the form of gas, solid/rubber crump, and liquid waste. These pollutants occur due to sub-standard PRPM management processes and the use of non-recommended clotting agents such as sulfuric acid, alum potassium, and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer. The natural rubber management process also uses machines that cause noise pollution. The impact of health problems that can occur contact dermatitis, hearing loss, respiratory diseases, and pulmonary parenchyma, and eye irritation.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the pollutants in the air. One of the industries that cause H2S odor is the natural rubber industry. Exposure to H2S has an impact on increasing blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes. Diabetes mellitus can increase risks such as myocardial infarction, stroke, kidney failure, lower extremity amputation and vision loss. Based on this, the authors are interested in studying the impact of exposure to H2S gas on blood glucose levels in crumb rubber factory workers in the city of Palembang. This study is a cross-sectional analysis. The study was conducted at the crumb rubber factory in Palembang City in March 2020. The sampel this study with a total of 215 workers. Data analysis using chi square with p <0.05. The results of the analysis concluded that there was no relationship between age (pV=0.758), gender (pV=0.532), smoking (pV=1,000), body mass index (pV=0.571), exposure to H2S gas (pV=0.772) with blood glucose levels. This is probably because the main role of H2S in the pancreas is to protect pancreatic B cells and regulate insulin secretion. H2S can protect pancreatic b cells in the following three ways: (1) reducing ROS production; (2) inhibits the expression of thioredoxin binding protein-2-a redox protein associated with diabetes that promotes apoptosis; and (3) increased GSH content, all of which reduce oxidative stress damage.

Workers are required to receive Occupational Safety and Health protection. Work accidents can be influenced by physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychological factors. Natural rubber factory is one of the industries that have risks to these factors. This study used a cross-sectional design. Data analysis used the CHAID (Chi-Square Automatic Interaction) method. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results of the study showed that the average concentration of H2S in the air and in solids was above the quality standard and the average concentration of H2S in water was still below the quality standard. The average concentration of NH3 in water and in solids is above the quality standard and the average concentration of NH3 in the air is still below the quality standard. The results of the CHAID method analysis showed that glucose levels were associated with impaired liver function (p = 0.000; chi square = 48.766) and the risk of H2S exposure in the air with impaired liver function (p = 0.007; chi square = 7.944). In addition, 3 segments of liver function disorders were also found, namely Segment 1: Workers with abnormal BBS levels, high air exposure H2S; segment 2: Workers with abnormal glucose levels, low air exposure H2S; segment 3: Workers with normal glucose levels. Based on this segment, it was also found that the percentage of risk of experiencing liver function disorders were workers in segment 2 (36.3%) and segment 1 (17.4%).