Assessment of inhaled dust by workers and suspended dust for pollution control change and ergonomic intervention in metal casting industry: A cross-sectional study

A multicomponent quasi-experimental ergonomic interventional study: long-term parallel four-groups interventions

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are known as one of the main problems affecting the health of industrial workers and can lead to lost working days, functional disability of workers and wasting the financial resources of an organization. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluating the effect of ergonomic interventions on reducing MSDs and improving working posture in the in a foundry industry workers.

METHODS

A field multicomponent cross-interventional study was conducted on workers working in a foundry industry. In this study, 117 male workers were divided into 4 groups, including a control group, a group with specialized ergonomics training, a group with workstation intervention, and a group simultaneously undergoing training and workstation intervention. All 4 groups were evaluated during a period of baseline, 6 and 12-months follow- up. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) and direct observations of working postures by using the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) method were used.

RESULTS

The results showed that the implemented interventions in the shoulder/arm, back and stress level were effective and the difference in the final score was significant among different groups (P-value > 0.05). In addition, the interventions led to a significant decrease in the QEC scores and musculoskeletal symptom scores in the neck, shoulder, lower back, knee, and lower leg regions among different groups (P-value > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that workstation modification and training and workstation intervention simultaneously had a greater effect on MSDs and improving working posture compared to training alone.

Comparison of the chemical health risk assessment of exposure to metal fumes for the furnace operator of a foundry industry using quantitative and semi-quantitative methods

Heavy metals have several adverse effects on the workers' bodies due to their accumulation in the vital organs. Besides that, the current study aimed to assess the health risk of exposure to metal fumes for furnace operators working in a foundry industry based on the three different methods. The current sectional descriptive-analytical research conducted on a foundry industry in Isfahan (Iran) in 2022. Three common methods currently available, including the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Method (SQRCA) and two methods provided based on the US-EPA provided technique, were used in this study. At first, the extent of people's exposure to metal fumes of Fe, Ni, Cr, and Mn was measured. Then, the chemical risk assessment of exposure to these metals' fumes was done using the three methods, and their results were compared. The SPSS Ver.25 has been used for data analysis and comparison in the current study. Results indicated that the furnace operator's exposure to all four metals was above the allowed limit of occupational exposure. The chemical risk assessment results also showed that in the first method (US-EPA-based), the risk of exposure for all workers was acceptable, while in the second method (SQCRA), the risk level of a majority of workers was medium, and in the third method (US-EPA-based), the risk level of a majority of workers was not acceptable. Comparing the methods showed that average risk scores in the first and second methods were significant compared to the exposure to fumes with equivalent concentration (P_value<0.05). The average score of carcinogenicity risk in method 3 was significant compared to the concentration of chromium and nickel (P-_value < 0.05), but it was not significant for iron and manganese and the non-carcinogenic risk of chromium and nickel. Chemical exposure risk level for the furnace operator was approximately moderate in all three methods. In terms of complexity and information required to implement the method, all three methods were almost the same, with the difference that the results of the first method cannot be generalized to other people who have the same job conditions because individual information such as a person's weight is used to calculate its score.

Snow Cover as an Indicator of Dust Pollution in the Area of Exploitation of Rock Materials in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains

Snow cover in environmental monitoring is a valuable resource for information on sources of air pollutants and the level of air pollution. Research in areas of intense industrial pressure without systematic air quality control is of particular importance in this aspect. This is the case in the vicinity of Łagów (an urban–rural municipality) in the eastern part of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (southern Poland), where rock mining fields have been created over a large area. Limestone, marly limestone and dolomite are mined in this area. The carbonate dust accumulated during the two-week deposition significantly altered the physicochemical and chemical properties of the snow cover. An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer-time-of-flight (ICP-MS-TOF), Dionex 3000 ion chromatograph and Hach HQ2200 water quality meter were used for chemical analyses. The pH, electric conductivity (EC), major ions and selected heavy metals (HM) were determined in water samples obtained after snow melt in two measurement campaigns. The comparative analysis performed showed an increase in pH, EC, Cl, Ca, NO3, SO4 and heavy metals in samples from the two-week old cover (second series) compared to fresh snow (first series). The conducted research indicates a potential hazard for the inhabitants of Łagów due to respirable dusts released into the atmosphere during extraction, processing and transport of rock materials.

Community Health Risk Assessment of Total Suspended Particulates near a Cement Plant in Maros Regency, Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Cement plants generate particulate matter (PM) across processes from raw material preparation to packaging. The presence of total suspended particulates (TSP) coming out of the stack causes a high accumulation of dust in residential areas. Human exposure to TSP could affect human health and wellbeing.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aims to evaluate concentrations of TSP and to estimate the health risks of TSP exposure through the inhalation pathway in communities surrounding a private cement industry in Maros regency, Indonesia.

METHODS

Total suspended particulates were collected using a high-volume air sampler (HVAS) at five locations. Samples were taken by grab sampling for 24 hours. The SCREEN3 program was used to view the maximum range and distribution of pollutants based on the geographical, stack profiles and meteorological factors in the study area. Hazard quotient (HQ) was used to estimate non-carcinogenic risks of TSP in surrounding communities.

RESULTS

Total suspended particulate concentrations were measured with a maximum value of 133.24 μg/m³ and a minimum value of 18.48 μg/m³. This maximum value exceeds the minimum acceptable level from Canadian National Ambient Air Quality Objectives (C-NAAQOs). The non-carcinogenic risks from the inhalation pathway were low except for location 3 (HQ>1) across all locations.

CONCLUSIONS

The cement plant may significantly contribute to total TSP concentrations in air and may potentially have adverse effects on human health. Communities near the cement plant are vulnerable to TSP exposure and measures are needed to reduce TSP in Maros regency, Indonesia.

PARTICIPANT CONSENT

Obtained.

ETHICS APPROVAL

This study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Hasanuddin University with protocol number 28920093022.

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.