DUST EXPOSURE AND LUNG FUNCTION AMONG WORKERS OF A RICE MILL IN KAMPHAENG PHET PROVINCE

Abstract

          The objective of this study was to determine dust exposure and lung function among rice mill workers in Kamphaeng Phet Province. Data collected form 42 workers. Collected data were divided into 3 parts: 1) Total dust and respirable dust exposure were collected in breathing zone of participants via personal sampling technique for a full period of work according to the NIOSH manual of analytical method number 0500 and 0600 respectively; 2) Lung function of workers were tested by spirometry method; and 3) The data collection was performed using questionnaires regarding personal characteristics and working characteristics. The results showed that the most of workers were male (64.3%) and their average age was 33.5 ± 9.39 years. Their working experience was 8.16 ± 5.28 years. The 8 hour time weighted average of total dust and respirable dust exposure of workers were 0.32 ± 0.19 and 0.09 ± 0.05 mg/m3 respectively. Besides there were 40.5% of workers indicate that lung function were abnormal results, all of their abnormal results were restrictive pattern. This study found that 3 factors were associated with lung function at 95% confidence interval level i.e. age, total dust and respirable dust exposure (p-value = 0.046, 0.031 and 0.031 respectively). The result showed that measures to control the dust exposure should be performed in order to prevent employee’s lung deterioration in the rice mills.