occupational tasks influencing lung function and respiratory symptoms among charcoal production workers a time series study

Occupational Tasks Influencing Lung Function and Respiratory Symptoms amongCharcoal- Production Workers: a Time-Series Study Walaiporn Pramchoo, Alan F.. Geater, Boonsin Tangtrakulwanich

Occupational Tasks Influencing Lung Function and Respiratory Symptoms among

Charcoal- Production Workers: a Time-Series Study

Walaiporn Pramchoo, Alan F Geater, Ph.D, Silom Jamulitrat, Sarayut L Geater,

Boonsin Tangtrakulwanich

DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.11.006

To appear in: Safety and Health at Work

Received Date: 6 March 2015

Revised Date: 7 November 2016

Accepted Date: 20 November 2016

Please cite this article as: Pramchoo W, Geater AF, Jamulitrat S, Geater SL, Tangtrakulwanich B,Occupational Tasks Influencing Lung Function and Respiratory Symptoms among Charcoal- Production

Workers: a Time-Series Study, Safety and Health at Work (2017), doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.11.006.

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Walaiporn PRAMCHOO, Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University

Alan F GEATER, Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University

Silom JAMULITRAT, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla

University

Sarayut L GEATER, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla

University

Boonsin TANGTRAKULWANICH,Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Medicine, Faculty

of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University

Background: The tasks involved in traditional charcoal-production variously expose workers to charcoal

dust and wood smoke This study aimed to identify specific tasks influencing lung function and

respiratory symptoms Methods: Interviews, direct observation, and task/symptom checklists were used

to collect data from 50 charcoal-production workers on 3 non-work days followed by 11 workdays Peak

expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured 4 times/day Results: PEFR was reduced and the prevalence

of respiratory symptoms increased over the first 6-7 workdays PEFR increased up to evening on

non-work days but not on non-work-days Loading the kiln and collecting charcoal from within the kiln markedly

reduced the PEFR and increased the odds of respiratory symptoms Conclusion: Tasks involving entry

into the kiln were strongly associated with short-term drop in PEFR and the occurrence of respiratory

symptoms, suggesting a need for the use of protective equipment and/or the operation of an effective kiln

ventilation system

Word count: 150

Keywords: Charcoal-production worker; Peak expiratory flow rate; Respiratory symptoms; Wood smoke

Work time (hour/day), median = 8 (range 8, 9)

Regularly worked overtime

No

Yes

19 (38.0)

31 (62.0) Work overtime* (hour/day), median = 2 (range 1, 3)

* On days worked overtime

2

3

4

5.3, 11.5 10.4, 16.6 10.0, 16.2

-7.6, -5.9 0.4, 0.6

-4.4, 0.1 -5.8, -1.1 0.0, 3.8 -3.6, 0.4

0.037 0.005 0.054 0.126

-0.5, 6.6 -1.7, 9.0 2.4, 9.1 2.3, 9.3

0.090 0.004 0.001 0.001

Interaction time × Carrying wood

-8.8, 0.0 -10.4, -1.6 -7.9, 0.9

0.054

Interaction time × Loading kiln

-15.0, -6.6 -22.4, -14.0 -15.5, -7.1

Interaction time × Firing kiln

-7.8, 0.5 -9.9, -1.7 -6.8, 1.5

-16.4, -8.1 -21.3, -13.0 -9.6, -1.2

7.3, 20.7 0.75, 0.85 0.5, 3.2 4.6, 43.3 0.5, 3.3 0.6, 3.6

<0.001

0.633

<0.001 0.650 0.386

Cough with phlegm

11.9, 81.9 0.72, 0.83 0.9, 6.1 2.0, 12.7 1.8, 13.6 0.8, 6.0

<0.001

0.067 0.001 0.002 0.157

225 4.0

3.0, 7.8 0.86, 0.92 0.2, 2.4 53.1, 952 1.2, 13.7

<0.001

0.512

<0.001 0.028

4.5, 20.4 0.86, 0.90 0.02, 0.8 1.5, 122 0.9, 24.1 0.5, 10.0

<0.001

0.024 0.021 0.063 0.302

1.5, 7.5 0.88, 1.00 0.1, 10.0

<0.001

0.913

151

1.7, 516 0.3, 21.4 7.3, 3120

0.020 0.359 0.001

5.3, 33.6 0.76, 0.87 0.6, 10.0 2.9, 48.2 1.0, 19.1 0.4, 5.0

<0.001

0.184 0.001 0.056 0.644

* a-OR adjusted odds ratio