Abou-Taleb A N, Musaiger A O, Abdelmoneim R B
Dept of Occupational Health, Ministry of Health, United Arab Emirates.
J R Soc Health. 1995 Dec;115(6):378-81. doi: 10.1177/146642409511500610.
The aim of this study was to investigate some of the health problems among cement workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional sample of 304 workers was selected randomly from four cement factories in four Emirates. Most of the workers (88%) were from India, married (84%) and had received primary education or above (93%). Smoking was prevalent among 27% of the workers and about 24% consumed alcoholic beverages. Personal hygiene was found to be satisfactory among the workers. The main health symptoms reported by the cement workers were chronic cough, chronic bronchitis, burning, itching and runny eyes, headache and fatigue. Chronic bronchitis (p < 0.007), burning, itching and runny eyes (p < 0.002) and fatigue (p < 0.004) were significantly increased with age of workers. Smoking was significantly associated with chronic cough (p < 0.03) and chronic bronchitis (p < 0.01). However, the chance of smokers getting respiratory health problems was two to five times greater compared with non-smokers. Future studies on the health of workers in UAE should include more investigations using specialised equipment to detect and diagnose health problems.
本研究的目的是调查阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）水泥工人中的一些健康问题。从四个酋长国的四家水泥厂中随机抽取了304名工人作为横断面样本。大多数工人（88%）来自印度，已婚（84%），接受过小学及以上教育（93%）。27%的工人吸烟，约24%的人饮用酒精饮料。发现工人的个人卫生状况令人满意。水泥工人报告的主要健康症状有慢性咳嗽、慢性支气管炎、眼睛灼痛、瘙痒和流泪、头痛和疲劳。慢性支气管炎（p < 0.007）、眼睛灼痛、瘙痒和流泪（p < 0.002）以及疲劳（p < 0.004）随着工人年龄的增长而显著增加。吸烟与慢性咳嗽（p < 0.03）和慢性支气管炎（p < 0.01）显著相关。然而，吸烟者出现呼吸道健康问题的几率是非吸烟者的两到五倍。未来对阿联酋工人健康的研究应包括更多使用专业设备来检测和诊断健康问题的调查。
