Factors related to lung function among rice mill workers

Abstract

           This research aimed to study the personal factors, work factor and the amount of inhalable dust concentration related to lung function abnormalities of employees at a rice mill. The samples were 101 employees who worked in the production process. The most of the employees were male 86.1%, age range is 46-55 years 41.6%, married 78.2%, graduated from high school. 38.6%, smoke 45.5%, employees used respiratory protection equipment 60.4%,while the average amount of work experience was 10.86 ± 7.92 years. Inhalable dust of exposure was at the highest mill/ polishing department 12.77 mg/m3. The lowest concentration at receive/baked department 0.04 mg/m3 averaged 2.64 ± 2.91 mg/m3. The related between inhalable dust with lung function found that there was no relation with lung function. About personal factors there was a statistically significant related with lung function at the level of 0.05 gender (p = 0.012), age (p = 0.001), status (p = 0.02), smoking (p = 0.005) and congenital disease (p = 0.045). The work experience are significantly related to lung function at the level of 0.05 (p = 0.000). Therefore, there should be a surveillance and employee lung function check every year. There should be also strict enforcement measures for wearing respiratory protection equipment and should have health promotion activities for employees such as the campaign to stop smoking and the resting area for employees is separated from the production area.