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ISSN 2063-5346
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Study of Silico-Tuberculosis Among Workers in Pottery Craft Manufacturing Area

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Karim Mohammed Kamel Hassan, Mahmoud M. Amr, Bahira M. S. Lotfy, Salwa K. M. Hassan, Steven, Angele, Maurits Verpaele
» doi: 10.31838/ecb/2023.12.1.416

Abstract

El-Fawakheer Pottery craft workers are more prone to occupational exposure to respirable silica. Such exposure could lead to various health hazards including respiratory, musculoskeletal, skin, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Aim of study: Assessment of silicosis and silico-tuberculosis among pottery workers and focus on the association between silicosis and the development of tuberculosis in pottery industry exposed workers. Subject and methods: Analytical Cross-sectional study was done, comprising 185 workers out of 200 individuals working in pottery Clay Crafts who agreed to participate in the study. The workers were subjected to full clinical examination, laboratory investigations included tuberculin skin test, plain chest x ray and ventilatory function tests. Bulk Sample mineralogy & environmental samples measurements for respirable dust and respirable silica, in addition to SO2, CO, CO2, NO2, VOCs and PM10. Results: showed that more than half of the studied workers complained from chest, musculoskeletal, dermatological, GIT and nervous problems with 38.3, 16.2, 10.2, 4.3 and 3.7 % frequency respectively. Tuberculin test was positive in four workers with chest x-ray opacities. According to the Egyptian Ministerial Decree 211 for the year 2003 “Limits of workplace pollutants” as promulgated by the Egyptian labour law number 12 for the year 2003, silica dust exposure levels exceeded the accepted limit in 5 samples out of 82 samples while in only one sample the respirable dust exceeded the accepted limit. Results showed that there is statistically significant difference of PM10, CO, CO2 between the different places of sampling. Conclusion: Pottery craft workers have high risk for development of silicosis and subsequent pulmonary Silico-tuberculosis.

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