Evaluation of Pulmonary Capacity and Prevalence of Pulmonary Dysfunctions of Bell Metal Workers in Relation to their work Experience and Smoking Habit

Abstract

The bell metal works is the oldest cottage industries mainly clustered around the Bankura, Purulia and Medinipur (W) districts in West Bengal, India. The smelting, hammering, scraping and paddle rolling are the most predominant activities in their Bell Metal work process. During work, different types of metal fumes are sublimated to their working environment. The present study was to investigate the prevalence of pulmonary dysfunctions of these workers. 363 workers were randomly selected of them 263 were exposed and 100 were control workers. The prevalence of pulmonary symptoms was determined by a standardized questionnaire. Pulmonary indices viz. FVC%, FEV1%, FEF 25%-75% , FEV1/FVC%, MVV-Index and PEFR were measured by a digital spirometer and smoking frequency was determined by Nitti Index. Study results revealed that there were significant differences in height (p<0.05), weight and BMI (p<0.001) between the exposed and control groups. All pulmonary indices were significantly (p<0.05 or less) lower in exposures than controls. The prevalence of different pulmonary diseases viz., COPD (p<0.05), asthma (p<0.001), wheezing (p<0.01) and breathlessness (p<0.001) were significantly higher in exposures than that of the control. It was concluded that the exposures had reduced pulmonary capacity, which might be due to expose of different gases, fumes and other pulmonary irritants. The occurrences of pulmonary diseases were higher in bell metal workers than that of non-exposed workers. Smoking and work experience may be additive adverse effect on it.This alloy manufacturing, which is usually done at home in small and medium scales (SMSc) industries, is one of the oldest cottage industries in Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and in India, including West Bengal state, from the ancient time [1] . It is an industry which had been handed over from generation to generation. The processes which were totally manual have not been mechanized till now. Tin and copper are scrap metal, smelted at an above 232°C and 1084°C respectively [2] by using coal and poured into sand casts of various shapes to prepare a bell ingot. During smelting and casting, different types of metal fumes (e.g. copper, tin, lead, silica etc) are sublimated to their working environment. Bell and silica, tin, coal dust may be released during fettling and polishing. Gases such as metal oxides, formaldehydes, PAHs CO, ozone, oxides of nitrogen, Sulpher [3] , acetylene and ARTICLE RESEARCHInt.

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