Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Research Article

Some Health Disorders among Workers in a Glass Factory

Menoufiya University, Gamal Abdel Nasser Street, Shebin Al-Kom, Al- Menoufiya, Egypt

*Corresponding Author:

Abdel-Rasoul G M
Departments of Public Health and Community Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, Menoufiya University
Gamal Abdel Nasser Street, Shebin Al-Kom, Al- Menoufiya, Egypt
E-mail: manal_1970@yahoo.com

Received date: February 07, 2013; Accepted date: March 11, 2013; Published date: March 13, 2013

Citation: Abdel-Rasoul GM, Al-Batanony MA, Abu-Salem ME, Taha AA, Unis F (2013) Some Health Disorders among Workers in a Glass Factory. Occup Med Health Aff 1:106. doi: 10.4172/2329-6879.1000106

Copyright: © 2013 Abdel-Rasoul GM, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Introduction: The common Health hazards associated with glass manufacturing processes include noise, exposures to respirable airborne particulates [especially silica (SiO2) that leads to chronic effects such as decreased pulmonary function, lung disease, complicated pneumoconiosis (silicosis, the most important and oldest occupational lung diseases worldwide specially in developing countries) and silico-tuberculosis], ergonomic hazards, physical hazards, radiant energy, heat stress disorders and infrared radiation. Aim of the study: Studying some health disorders among Egyptian workers in a glass industry as well as to assessing workplace environment in the same factory. Participants and methods: A cross sectional comparative study was carried out over 250 worker in a glass factory and 250 non-occupational exposed group. Environmental study of dust and fumes, and noise levels was done. Spirometric measurements as well as X-ray film to any worker with abnormal spirometry and air conduction audiometric examination were applied. Results: The mean value of both free crystalline silica concentration and noise level is higher than the national and international permissible levels. Glass factory workers had a higher significant prevalence of chest, auditory and heat related manifestations as well as deteriorated spirometric measurements and abnormal audiometric findings. Conclusion: Exposure to high level of silica dust and noise are blamed to increase the frequency of chest manifestations, early spirometric changes, few X-ray findings and occupationally induced hearing loss. Using automated cullets crushing machine to decrease exposure to dust and using good quality of personal protective equipments especially masks and ear muffles are must.

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