Evaluation of Health Status of Turkish Ceramic Workers

Year 2018, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 202 - 206, 28.09.2018

Hatice Gul Anlar Merve Bacanli Meşide Gündüzöz Servet Iritas Engin Tutkun Omer Hinc Yilmaz Nursen Basaran

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluation of health status of Turkish

ceramic workers (n=99). For this purpose, leukocyte (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB),

haematocrit (HCT), thrombocyte (PLT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate

aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CR), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) levels

were investigated in workers and their controls (n=81). Also spirometry tests, chest

radiographs and workplace dust measurement were analyzed.

Methods: As and Hg levels determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass

Spectrometry (ICP-MS). AST, ALT and CR levels were analyzed by Konelab Prime

60i auto-analyzer while Hb, PLT, WBC numbers and HCT percentages were

measured by Coulter LH780. Chest radiographs of workers were taken by using a

short exposure time with high voltage technique. Standard spirometry measurements

of workers and controls were done with a dry seal spirometry Dust samples were

collected with badge dosimeter and analyzed by gravimetrically.

Results: In this study, WBC, PLT, AST, ALT, CR, As and Hg levels of workers higher

while HGB and HCT levels lower than the controls. 38 workers were diagnosed with

silicosis, 9 workers were suspected to have silicosis, whereas 52 workers were found

to be healthy. Average value of FEV1/FVC ratios was found to be 81.430±5.314

(Mean ± SD) for workers and 81.31±5.22 (Mean ± SD) for controls. The mean

concentration of respirable total dust in workplace was 3.58 mg/m3

.Conclusion: Ceramic workers must be considered as risky persons as their working

conditions affect many organs and systems in their body such as liver, kidney and

hematopoetic system.

Keywords

Ceramic workers; silica; hematopoetic system; liver; kidney

References

• Yassin A, Yebesi F, Tingle R. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust in the United States, 1988-2003. Environ. Health Perspect 2005; 113: 255-60.