Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Occupational Tasks Influencing Lung Function and Respiratory Symptoms Among Charcoal-Production Workers: A Time-Series Study

  • Pramchoo, Walaiporn (Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University) ;
  • Geater, Alan F. (Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University) ;
  • Jamulitrat, Silom (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University) ;
  • Geater, Sarayut L. (Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University) ;
  • Tangtrakulwanich, Boonsin (Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University)
  • Received : 2015.03.06
  • Accepted : 2016.11.20
  • Published : 2017.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: Tasks involved in traditional charcoal production expose workers to various levels of 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 nonwork days followed by 11 workdays. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured four times per day. Results: The PEFR was reduced and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms increased over the first 6-7 workdays. The PEFR increased until evening on nonwork days but not on workdays. 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 a short-term drop in the 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.

Keywords

References

  1. Pritchard C, Molony T, editors. The Kenya charcoal policy handbook. Rugby, UK: Practical Action Consulting; 2011. 4 p.
  2. Department of Energy. Manual for charcoal production in earth kilns in Zambia. Stockholm (Sweden): Stockholm Environment Institute; 2003.
  3. Kato M, DeMarini DM, Carvalho AB, Rego MA, Andrade AV, Bonfim AS, Loomis D. World at work: charcoal producing industries in northeastern Brazil. Occup Environ Med 2005;62:128-32. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2004.015172
  4. Union of Concerned Scientists. The root of the problem-drivers of deforestation: what is driving tropical deforestation today?. Cambridge (MA): Union of Concerned Scientists; 2011.
  5. Pierson WE, Koenig JQ, Bardana EJ. Potential adverse health effects of wood smoke. West J Med 1989;151:339-42.
  6. Washington State Department of Ecology. Health effects of wood smoke [Internet]. Washington (DC): Washington State Department of Ecology. 1997 [cited 2007 Apr 13]. Available from: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/92046.pdf.
  7. Naeher LP, Brauer M, Lipsett M, Zelikoff JT, Simpson CD, Koenig JQ, Smith KR. Wood smoke health effects: a review. Inhal Toxicol 2007;19:67-106.
  8. Betchley C, Koenig JQ, Belle GV, Checkoway H, Reinhardt T. Pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in forest firefighters. Am J Ind Med 1997;31:503-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199705)31:5<503::AID-AJIM3>3.0.CO;2-U
  9. Tzanakis N, Kallergis K, Bouros DE, Samiou MF, Siafakas NM. Short-term effects of wood smoke exposure on the respiratory system among charcoal production workers. Chest 2001;119:1260-5. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.4.1260
  10. Pramchoo W, Jamulitrat S, Geater SL. Comparison of symptoms and pulmonary function in charcoal production workers and rubber planters. Songkla Med J 2010;28:61-7.
  11. Saha A, Rao NM, Kulkarni PK, Majumdar PK, Saiyed HN. Pulmonary function and fuel use: a population survey. Respir Res 2005;6:127-32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1465-9921-6-127
  12. Levi MO, Aymerich JG, Villar J, Sarmiento AR, Anto JM, Gea J. Wood smoke exposure and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Respir J 2005;27:542-6.
  13. Uzun K, Ozbay B, Ceylan E, Gencer M, Zehir I. Prevalence of chronic bronchitiseasthma symptoms in biomass fuel exposed females. Environ Res 2005;99:93-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2005.01.004
  14. Siddiqui AR, Lee K, Gold EB, Bhutta ZA. Eye and respiratory symptoms among women exposed to smoke emitted from indoor cooking: a study from southern Pakistan. Energy J 2005;9:58-66.
  15. Shaikh S, Nafees AA, Khetpal V, Jamali AA, Arain AM, Yousul A. Respiratory symptoms and illnesses among brick kiln workers: a cross sectional study from rural districts of Pakistan. BMC Public Health 2012;12:999-1004. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-999
  16. Gaughan DM, Cox-Ganser JM, Enright PL, Castellan RM, Wagner GR, Hobbs GR, Bledsoe TA, Siegel PD, Kreiss K, Weissman DN. Acute upper and lower respiratory effects in wildland firefighters. JOEM 2008;50:1019-28.
  17. de Souza RM, de Andrade FM, Moura ABD, Teixeira PJZ. Respiratory symptoms in charcoal production workers in the cities of Lindolfo Collor, Ivoti and Presidente Lucena, Brazil. J Bras Pneumol 2010;36:210-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132010000200009
  18. Tennant S, Szuster F. Nationwide monitoring and surveillance question development: asthma. Working Paper Series No. 2. Adelaide, Australia: Public Health Information Development Unit; 2003. p. 23-31.
  19. American Thoracic Society. Standardization of spirometry. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995;152:1107-36. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.152.3.7663792
  20. Ibhazehiebo K, Dimkpa U, Uche OK, Iyawe VI. Peak expiratory flow rate and respiratory symptoms following chronic domestic wood smoke exposure in women in Edo, Nigeria. Afr J Biomed Res 2007;10:33-9.
  21. Jansen KL, Larson TV, Koenig JQ, Mar TF, Fields C, Stewart J, Lippmann M. Associations between health effects and particulate matter and black carbon in subjects with respiratory disease. Environ Health Perspect 2005;113:1741-6. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8153
  22. Brunekreef B, Holgate ST. Air pollution and health. Lancet 2002;360:1233-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11274-8
  23. Meo SA. Effects of duration of exposure to wood dust on peak expiratory flow rate among workers in small scale wood industries. IJOMEH 2004;17:451-5.
  24. Adetona O, Hall DB, Naeher LP. Lung function changes in wildland firefighters working at prescribed burns. Inhal Toxicol 2011;23:835-41. https://doi.org/10.3109/08958378.2011.617790
  25. Medarov BI, Pavlov VA, Rossoff L. Diurnal variations in human pulmonary function. Int J Clin Exp Med 2008;1:267-73.
  26. Thaman RG, Girgla KK, Arora GP. Circadian peak expiratory flow rate variability in healthy north Indian geriatric population. JIACM 2010;11:195-8.
  27. Large AA, Owens GR, Hoffman LA. The short-term effects of smoke exposure on the pulmonary function of firefighters. Chest 1990;97:806-9. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.97.4.806
  28. Dorman SC, Ritz SA. Smoke exposure has transient pulmonary and systemic effects in wildland firefighters [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2015 Jan 15]. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/943219.
  29. Liu D, Tager IB, Balmes JR, Harrison RJ. The effect of smoke inhalation on lung function and airway responsiveness in wildland fire fighters. Am Rev Respir Dis 1992;146:1469-73. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/146.6.1469
  30. Chia KS, Jeyaratnam J, Chan TB, Lim TK. Airway responsiveness of firefighters after smoke exposure. Br J Ind Med 1990;47:524-7.
  31. Unger KM, Snow RM, Mestas JM, Miller WC. Smoke inhalation in firemen. Thorax 1980;35:838-42. https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.35.11.838
  32. Kleeman MJ, Schauer JJ, Cass GR. Size and composition distribution of fine particulate matter emitted from wood burning, meat charbroiling, and cigarettes. Environ Sci Technol 1999;33:3516-23. https://doi.org/10.1021/es981277q
  33. Hays MD, Geron CD, Linn KJ, Smith ND, Schauer JJ. Speciation of gas-phase and fine particle emissions from burning of foliar fuels. Environ Sci Technol 2002;36:2281-95. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0111683
  34. Echalar F, Gaudichet A, Cachier H, Artaxo P. Aerosol emission by tropical forest and savanna biomass burning: characteristic trace elements and fluxes. Geophys Res Lett 1995;22:3039-42. https://doi.org/10.1029/95GL03170