A study of prevalence rate and factors associated with symptoms and abnormal pulmonary function among furniture workers

Abstract

This study was a cross sectional study conducted among 120 furniture workers. The objectives were to survey the prevalence rate and factors associated with symptoms and abnormal pulmonary functions. Subjects were divided into 5 groups by type of work such as the cutting or part section, sanding, assembly, coating and finishing, and packing section. Air samples of wood dust were collected for inhalable dust and respirable dust. Vapors were collected only in coating and finishing section. The personal and area sampling technique were used to collect air samples in accordance with the NIOSH methods. Results of air sampling analysis, showed that the highest average concentration of respirable dust was 0.59 mg/m3 in sanding section. Results of vapors also showed the highest average concentration of toluene was 9.02 ppm in area and 10.07 ppm in personal sampling. Cutting section had the highest prevalence rate of symptoms (94.28%) of which headache and itching were the most common. Results of abnormal pulmonary functions, revealed that 4 workers had obstructive type (10%), 36 restrictive type (90%) and the prevalence of abnormal pulmonary functions was highest in the cutting section. Results of factors associated with symptoms were type of work (p=0.011) and past respiratory illness (p=0.010). A symptom that was associated with respiratory illness was allergy, allergy was associated with cough (p=0.021), cough and sputum (p=0.004), wheeze (p=0.001), nose irritation (p<0.001), blocked nose (p=0.001), eye irritation (p=0.035) and skin irritation (p=0.002). Factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function were duration of work (p=0.047), concentration of xylene (p=0.028) and past respiratory illness (p=0.042). A symptom of respiratory illness that was associated with abnormal pulmonary function was allergy (p=0.015).;"การศึกษาครั้งนี้เป็นการศึกษาภาคตัดขวาง ในกลุ่มพนักงานผลิตเฟอร์นิเจอร์ จำนวน 120 คน วัตถุประสงค์ของการศึกษาเพื่อสำรวจความชุกและปัจจัยที่สัมพันธ์กับอาการและความผิดปกติของสมรรถภาพปอด โดยแบ่งกลุ่มพนักงานเป็น 5 กลุ่มตามลักษณะงาน ได้แก่ แผนกชิ้นงาน แผนกขัด แผนกประกอบ แผนกพ่นสี และแผนกบรรจุ การเก็บตัวอย่างอนุภาคขอ"