Respiratory Effects Among Rubberwood Furniture Factory Workers in Thailand

Abstract

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function were examined among 89 rubberwood furniture factory workers. Acute and chronic irritant symptoms were assessed, lung function was measured both pre- and post-shift and personal inhalable dust exposure determined. The only symptoms with a significant increase among high dust level-exposed workers (>1 mg/m(3)) were those related to nasal irritation. High dust level-exposed workers had a significant cross-shift decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) compared with low dust level-exposed workers and increases in inhalable dust concentration levels (mg/m(3)) were significantly associated with decreases in the peak expiratory flow (PEF) across the work shift. For percent predicted pulmonary function levels, a significant decrement in PEF was found for high versus low rubberwood dust level-exposed workers, after controlling for confounders. These findings suggest the need for an occupational standard for rubberwood dust in Thailand.

Job safety analysis and hazard identification for work accident prevention in para rubber wood sawmills in southern Thailand

“…The results from this study of Para rubber wood sawmills in southern Thailand demonstrated that the workers in sawmills were exposed to wood dust and noise above permissible exposure limits, especially in process of sawing the lumber into sheets, and planing and re-arranging, respectively ( Table 4 and 5 ) . The dust level measurements were similar to previous studies of dust exposure to processing of Para rubber tree lumber 14,15) . It should be noted, however, that these previous studies were conducted at the Para rubber furniture factories, not sawmills.…”

“…We used JSA, hazard identification, risk assessment, and what if analysis 13) .J S A methodology was adapted from Job Hazard Analysis, OSHA Publication 3071 18) . Risk levels were assessed using the following steps: 1) an operational issue or occupational health problem was identified during inspection, reported and recorded, which required the attention of occupational safety personnel and the managers of each factory; 2) the researchers and occupational safety personnel Acceptable risk; Need to review working procedure and control of hazard [8][9][10][11] High risk; Needs to manage and control [12][13][14][15][16] No acceptable risk or tolerance; Need to stop and provide a control method or procedure in order to restart a Total score calculated by multiplying "chance of occupational health event" by "severity of occupational health event"…”

Principais riscos e fatores de risco ocupacionais dos marceneiros e carpinteiros, bem como doenças profissionais associadas e medidas de proteção recomendadas

“…Na realização das provas de função respiratória é frequente encontrar diminuição de alguns parâmetros 4,8,11,12,13 , sobretudo nos profissionais mais expostos 4, 11 e à medida que o turno progride 11 . A diminuição da capacidade pulmonar associa-se à irritação mecânica e/ ou química do tecido pulmonar, tendo como consequência a diminuição do calibre das vias respiratórias e diminuição da concentração de oxigénio.…”

“…Alguns investigadores defendem a possibilidade de existir reatividade cruzada entre os diversos alérgenos 3 . A semiologia mais frequente é caraterizada por irritação ocular (prurido-"comichão" e eritema-"vermelhidão") 8 , obstrução nasal a alternar com rinorreia (fluxo nasal) 6,8 , irritação da mucosa nasal 3,4,6,11 , espirros, tosse e dispneia (dificuldade respiratória). A alergia secundária ao contato com a madeira associa-se não só aos constituintes desta, mas também aos produtos químicos 6,13 e eventuais agentes biológicos presentes 6 .…”

“…Para além da asma 3-5, 12, 13 , existem estudos onde se verificou um aumento na prevalência da alveolite alérgica 11 , bronquite 11,12 , rinite 3, 11 , conjuntivite 11 e até cancro sino-sinusal 11,12 Aliás a IARC-International Agency for Research on Cancer-considera que as poeiras derivadas da madeira são carcinogénicas em humanos 3,5,6,8,11 . As principais neoplasias destacadas são o adenocarcinoma das cavidades nasais e seios perinasais 6,7 ; outros investigadores também mencionam o cancro do pulmão, faringe, estômago e colón.…”