HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT ASSOCIATED WITH WOOD DUST EXPOSURE AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR INCENSE AND JOSS STICK WORKERS, ROI-ET PROVINCE THAILAND

Abstract

Objective: (1)To assess environmental workplace exposure and identification hazards in the incense stick household factory. (2) To evaluate health risk and health effects among incense and joss stick worker (3) To plan for management and reducing health risk and health effect among incense workers in Dong Deang sub district, Roi - et province. Methods: The study was divided into 2 phrases; the first phrase was cross sectional study by walkthrough survey and observation for environmental workplace assessment. Dust and particle concentration was measured in environmental workplace; chemical concentration assessment was detected in dissolved dyeing and incense products. The second phrase was retrospective cohort study for evaluation health risk and effects comparative between incense workers and non- incense workers. Data collection by questionnaires interviewed, pulmonary function deficit testing by spirometry and blood lead level testing for evaluation of chemical exposure. The descriptive and analytical analysis were used for analysis the study; ANOVA, t-test, and fisher exact analysis for statistic significance (α at 0.05). Odd ratios and 95% confidence internal for coefficients. Results: Dust and chemical used in the incense making process were the majority hazards as shown by a real time exposure measured dust and small particle concentrations in workplace. The dust (PM10) concentrations were high in all the production process especially in stage of rolling and shaking wood powders onto the sticks and packing and wrapping were 0.538 ± 0.27 and 0.475±0.16 mg/m3. Heavy metals which were detected in incense products such as Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), and Nickel (Ni) were 0.95 ± 0.03, 0.89±0.10, and 0.87 ± 0.13, 0.99±0.10 (mg/L±SD), respectively. The unadjusted OR for wheezing sound, block nose and nose irritation, irritation eyes, and skin dermatitis, skin itchy were 2.58,2.18 2.33 and 2.22, respectively and the significant excess risk of respiratory illness in incense workers than non incense workers. The average mean of blood lead level among incense workers was 4.76±1.70 μg/dL and non- incense workers was 3.54±1.05 μg/dL. These values showed that the difference in blood lead concentrations was significantly higher in the incense workers than non- incense workers (p>0.05). However, the pulmonary function testing by parameter value, FVC, FEV1, FEV1 / FVC and FEF25–75 were not statistically significant difference between groups. But there were lower in incense workers than controls groups and may due to duration of work. Discussion: Dust and chemicals were major threats in incense stick making process may effect to respiratory system, skin irritation, neurological symptoms. Although the health effects assessment may not be clearly associated with pulmonary function testing and respiratory symptoms between incense workers and non- incense workers, the duration of work and are significant to health effects, therefore knowledge for reducing the health risk, personal protection equipment (PPE) using and environmental workplace management should be developed in small household factory.