Akinyemi Patrick Ayodeji, Adegbenro Caleb Aderemi, Ojo Temitope Olumuyiwa, Elugbaju Olanrewaju
Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
J Health Pollut. 2019 May 22;9(22):190604. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-9.22.190604. eCollection 2019 Jun.
Furniture making industries are small scale businesses that commonly use organic solvents. There has been minimal focus on the health effects of this chemical hazard on the nervous system among furniture makers in Nigeria.
The present study aimed to assess the association between organic solvents exposure and neurobehavioral status of furniture makers, using electronic technicians as a comparison group.
A comparative cross-sectional study design was employed. A sample size of 108 was calculated for each group. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on the socio-demographic variables and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). A proforma was developed to collect neurobehavioral assessment data. A checklist was used to assess the furniture makers' workshops. Air was sampled from all of the workshops in both the study and comparison groups to determine the concentration of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs).
The use of PPE was poor in both the study and comparison groups, with no significant difference between them (34.4% and 37.7% respectively). Total volatile organic compound and formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations were significantly higher at the furniture makers' workshops compared with electronic technicians (p<0.001) for both chemicals. The 8-hour time-weighted average of TVOC was also higher in the furniture makers' workshops (4.4±0.6 mg/m) compared with the control group (0.3±0.3 mg/m). The neurobehavioral symptoms score was significantly higher among the study group relative to the comparison group (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in the outcome of the auditory verbal learning test, total recall (p=0.005), and delayed recall (p=0.003). There was no significant association between solvent exposure index and findings from the simple reaction time test.
Poor compliance with the use of PPE among furniture makers may increase their exposure to organic solvents. There were more neurobehavioral changes in the furniture makers with a higher exposure index. Measures are needed to educate artisans about workrelated chemical hazards and ensure compliance with basic occupational safety and hygiene standards.
Obtained.
Ethics approval was obtained from the Health Research and Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University (IPH/OAU/12/1049).
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
家具制造行业属于小规模企业，普遍使用有机溶剂。在尼日利亚，家具制造商很少关注这种化学危害对神经系统的健康影响。
本研究旨在以电子技术人员作为对照组，评估有机溶剂暴露与家具制造商神经行为状态之间的关联。
采用比较性横断面研究设计。计算得出每组样本量为108。使用半结构化访谈式问卷获取社会人口统计学变量及个人防护装备（PPE）使用情况的数据。编制了一份表格以收集神经行为评估数据。使用一份清单对家具制造商的车间进行评估。对研究组和对照组的所有车间进行空气采样，以确定总挥发性有机化合物（TVOCs）的浓度。
研究组和对照组的PPE使用率都很低，两组之间无显著差异（分别为34.4%和37.7%）。与电子技术人员相比，家具制造商车间的总挥发性有机化合物和甲醛（HCHO）浓度在这两种化学物质方面均显著更高（p<0.001）。家具制造商车间TVOC的8小时时间加权平均值（4.4±0.6毫克/立方米）也高于对照组（0.3±0.3毫克/立方米）。研究组的神经行为症状评分显著高于对照组（p<0.001）。听觉言语学习测试结果、总回忆（p=0.005）和延迟回忆（p=0.003）存在显著差异。溶剂暴露指数与简单反应时间测试结果之间无显著关联。
家具制造商对PPE使用的依从性差可能会增加他们对有机溶剂的暴露。暴露指数较高的家具制造商出现的神经行为变化更多。需要采取措施对工匠进行与工作相关的化学危害教育，并确保他们遵守基本的职业安全和卫生标准。
已获得。
已获得奥巴费米·阿沃洛沃大学公共卫生研究所健康研究与伦理委员会的伦理批准（IPH/OAU/12/1049）。
作者声明不存在相互竞争的财务利益。
