Assessment of respiratory health and environmental safety measures in phosphate fertilizer industry in the middle region
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Assessment of respiratory health and environmental safety measures in phosphate fertilizer industry in the middle region of the Nile Delta, Egypt Hanaa A. Zayed 1 & Nihal Salah 2 & Nadira M Hassan 2 & Dalia Abd Elmagid 1 Received: 22 March 2020 / Accepted: 19 June 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Phosphate fertilizer industry is one of the most environmental polluting industries in Egypt. To identity the prevalence of abnormal ventilatory functions and to assess environmental safety measures in phosphate fertilizer industry in the middle region of the Nile Delta, Egypt. The study included 180 exposed male workers in phosphate fertilizer factory at Kafr El-Zayat City. An interview questionnaire was used to collect data related to socio-demographic, occupational history, and work-related respiratory manifestations. Spirometer was used for measuring ventilatory functions tests. Assessment of workplace safety measures was done by using Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Inspection Checklist, and environmental measures of total dust and sulfur dioxides (SOx) were obtained from records. Self-reported respiratory manifestations were found in 74/180 workers (41.11%), with rhinitis (49.3%), cough (38.9%), and expectoration (38.3%) were the most frequent. Abnormal ventilatory functions were confirmed and reported in about one-fourth of workers (43/180, 23.9%) with prominence of obstructive pattern. Significant negative correlation was found between age and MVV values (r = − 0.449, p = 0.001) and between duration of work and values of both FEV1(r = − 0.248, p = 0.033) and MVV (r = − 0.473, p = 0.001). The mean percent of applied safety practices and measures in workplace was 53.39% ± 16.4. The mean of sulfur dioxides values in English acid unit exceeded the permissible exposure level (PEL). Preventive medical and environmental safety measures were inadequate with a relatively high prevalence of abnormal ventilatory functions among workers. Sulfur dioxides measurements exceeded PEL. Keywords Phosphate fertilizer industry . Environmental safety measures . Respiratory problems . Ventilatory functions
Introduction Fertilizers provide nutrients to plants to increase and sustain peak crop production (Chien and Prochnow 2009). Fertilizers are classified into organic and inorganic. Organic fertilizers of commercial use are by-products of livestock, fish, and food and other processing industries (Gaskell and Smith 2007). Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya * Hanaa A. Zayed [email protected] 1
Occupational Health and Industrial Medicine at Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
2
Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Inorganic fertilizers mainly contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen is primarily provided by nitrogenous fertilizers as urea or ammonia fertilizers. Further shares of nitrogen are contained in complex ferti
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