ผลกระทบของสารเคมีที่ใช้ทำความสะอาดต่อความผิดปกติของระบบทางเดินหายใจและสมรรถภาพการทำงานของปอดในกลุ่มพนักงงานที่ทำงานในกิจการรับจ้างทำความสะอาด

Abstract

This cross-sectional with repeated measures among 62 cleaners was objected to describe the exposure from chemicals at work, prevalence of respiratory disorders and diseases, abnormal pulmonary function including the effect of chemical exposure on pulmonary function. Data were collected using interviewed questionnaire, personal samplings for ammonia, hydrochloric acid and chlorine. The pulmonary function were repeatedly measured at baseline, 3 months and 1 year. The study found ammonia at a time weighted average (TWA) was in the range of 0.00007-0.015 ppm at job title of wet scrubbing and 0.0003-0.5 ppm at job title of floor scrubbing. Hazard quotient (HQ) of both jobs were <1, considering safe exposure; Hydrochloric acid (TWA) was in the range of 0.0001-2.92 ppm at job title of floor mopping. The maximum of hydrochloric acid level among cleaners, who mopped the floor in the personnel office, was 2.92 ppm with HQ of 1.46 or unsafe for exposure. Hydrochloric acid exposure showed lower limit of detection at job title of floor waxing; Chlorine (TWA) was in the range 0.17-0.46 ppm at job title of dry scrubbing and 0.144-0.265 ppm at job title of mirror cleaning. HQ values of both jobs were <l which were safe for exposure. Regarding respiratory disorders, the cleaners had nasal congestion 25.8%, nasal irritation 25.8%, eye irritation 21.0 %, allergic rhinitis 29.0%, mucous membrane irritation 4.8% and asthma 4.8%. The pulmonary function tests showed restrictive lung of 8.1% at baseline, 11.3% at 3 months and 16.1% at 1 year respectively. The mean difference of FEV, and FEV,/FVC% over three measures also showed statistically different but not FVC. The TWA of chlorine in mirror cleaning job, cumulative dose of chlorine and job title of mirror cleaning showed statistically significant with FVC. It is most likely explained by that this job increased chlorine exposure because the employees had to stand spraying the cleaning agent under moderate to vigorous intensity at work.