Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 26 Kassai Street, 4028 Debrecen, Hungary.
Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 1;18(13):7052. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18137052.
During intercontinental shipping, freight containers and other closed transport devices are applied. These closed spaces can be polluted with various harmful chemicals that may accumulate in poorly ventilated environments. The major pollutants are residues of pesticides used for fumigation as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the goods. While handling cargos at logistics companies, workers can be exposed to these pollutants, frequently without adequate occupational health and safety precautions. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among potentially exposed warehouse workers and office workers as controls at Hungarian logistics companies (1) to investigate the health effects of chemical pollutants occurring in closed spaces of transportation and storage and (2) to collect information about the knowledge of and attitude toward workplace chemical exposures as well as the occupational health and safety precautions applied. Pre-existing medical conditions did not show any significant difference between the working groups. Numbness or heaviness in the arms and legs (AOR = 3.99; 95% CI = 1.72-9.26) and dry cough (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.09-4.93) were significantly associated with working in closed environments of transportation and storage, while forgetfulness (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.18-0.87), sleep disturbances (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17-0.78), and tiredness after waking up (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20-0.79) were significantly associated with employment in office. Warehouse workers who completed specific workplace health and safety training had more detailed knowledge related to this workplace chemical issue (AOR = 8.18; 95% CI = 3.47-19.27), and they were significantly more likely to use certain preventive measures. Warehouse workers involved in handling cargos at logistics companies may be exposed to different chemical pollutants, and the related health risks remain unknown if the presence of these chemicals is not recognized. Applied occupational health and safety measures at logistics companies are not adequate enough to manage this chemical safety issue, which warrants awareness raising and the introduction of effective preventive strategies to protect workers' health at logistics companies.
在洲际运输过程中，使用货运集装箱和其他封闭运输设备。这些封闭空间可能会受到各种有害化学物质的污染，这些化学物质可能会在通风不良的环境中积累。主要污染物是熏蒸用农药的残留以及货物释放的挥发性有机化合物（VOC）。在物流公司搬运货物时，工人可能会接触到这些污染物，而且经常没有采取足够的职业健康和安全预防措施。在匈牙利的物流公司中，对可能接触到的仓库工人和办公室工作人员进行了一项横断面问卷调查（1），以调查运输和储存过程中封闭空间中化学污染物对健康的影响，（2）收集有关工作场所化学暴露的知识和态度以及所应用的职业健康和安全预防措施的信息。现有医疗条件在工作人群之间没有显示出显著差异。手臂和腿部麻木或沉重（AOR = 3.99；95%CI = 1.72-9.26）和干咳（AOR = 2.32；95%CI = 1.09-4.93）与在运输和储存的封闭环境中工作显著相关，而健忘（AOR = 0.40；95%CI = 0.18-0.87）、睡眠障碍（AOR = 0.36；95%CI = 0.17-0.78）和醒来后疲倦（AOR = 0.40；95%CI = 0.20-0.79）与在办公室工作显著相关。完成特定工作场所健康和安全培训的仓库工人对这个工作场所化学问题有更详细的了解（AOR = 8.18；95%CI = 3.47-19.27），并且他们更有可能采取某些预防措施。在物流公司处理货物的仓库工人可能会接触到不同的化学污染物，如果不认识到这些化学物质的存在，相关的健康风险仍然未知。物流公司应用的职业健康和安全措施还不足以管理这个化学安全问题，这需要提高认识，并引入有效的预防策略来保护物流公司工人的健康。
