Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Jun 21;23(1):1196. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16086-9.
Occupational exposure to wood dust may cause respiratory illnesses, while prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss.
The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of hearing loss and respiratory symptoms among large-scale sawmill workers within the Gert Sibande Municipality in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
A comparative cross-sectional study consisting of 137 exposed and 20 unexposed randomly selected workers was undertaken from January to March 2021. The respondents completed a semi-structured questionnaire on hearing loss and respiratory health symptoms.
The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 (Chicago II, USA). The statistical analysis of the difference between the two proportions was done using an independent student t-test. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
There was a statistically significant difference between the exposed and unexposed workers on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms like phlegm (51.8 vs. 0.0%) and shortness of breath (chest pain) (48.2 vs. 50%). There was also a statistically significant difference between the exposed and unexposed workers on the signs and symptoms of hearing loss like tinnitus (ringing in the ears) (50 vs. 33.3%), ear infections (21.4 vs. 66.7%), ruptured ear drums (16.7 vs. 0.0%), and ear injuries (11.9 vs. 0.0%). The exposed workers reported always wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) (86.9%) compared to the unexposed workers (75%). The reason for not wearing PPE consistently by the exposed workers was due to not being available (48.5%), compared to the unexposed workers who reported other reasons (100%).
The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the exposed workers was higher than that of the unexposed workers, except for chest pains (shortness of breath). The prevalence of symptoms of hearing loss among the exposed workers was higher than the unexposed workers, except for ear infections. The results suggest that measures should be implemented at the sawmill to help protect workers' health.
职业性接触木尘可能导致呼吸道疾病,而长时间暴露于噪声中可能导致噪声性听力损失。
本研究旨在评估南非姆普马兰加省格特桑德市大型锯木厂工人的听力损失和呼吸道症状的患病率。
2021 年 1 月至 3 月期间,进行了一项由 137 名暴露组和 20 名非暴露组随机选择的工人参加的比较性横断面研究。受访者完成了一份关于听力损失和呼吸道健康症状的半结构式问卷。
使用社会科学统计软件包(SPSS)版本 21(芝加哥,美国)进行数据分析。使用独立学生 t 检验对两个比例之间的差异进行统计学分析。显著性水平设为 p<0.05。
暴露组和非暴露组在呼吸道症状(如咳痰(51.8%比 0.0%)和呼吸急促(胸痛)(48.2%比 50%)的患病率方面存在统计学显著差异。暴露组和非暴露组在听力损失的体征和症状(如耳鸣(耳内鸣响)(50%比 33.3%)、耳部感染(21.4%比 66.7%)、鼓膜破裂(16.7%比 0.0%)和耳部损伤(11.9%比 0.0%)方面也存在统计学显著差异。暴露组工人报告始终佩戴个人防护设备(PPE)(86.9%),而非暴露组工人(75%)则不然。暴露组工人不经常佩戴 PPE 的原因是因为没有(48.5%),而非暴露组工人则报告了其他原因(100%)。
暴露组工人的呼吸道症状患病率高于非暴露组工人,除了胸痛(呼吸急促)外。暴露组工人听力损失症状的患病率高于非暴露组工人,除了耳部感染外。结果表明,应在锯木厂采取措施保护工人健康。