Personal Dust Exposure And Chronic Respiratory Health Symptoms Among Flour Mill Factory Workers In Akaki Kaliti Sub City Addis Ababa Ethiopia 2019.

Background: Flour mill workers are at an increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms rndue to exposure to flour dust in their working environment. Exposure to flour dust linked withrnthe development of chronic respiratory disorders. However, very little evidence has beenrnavailable on the exposure level of flour dust and the respiratory health status of exposed workers.rnObjective: The aim of this study was to assess personal dust exposure level, chronic respiratoryrnhealth symptoms and associated factors among flour mill workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. rnMethods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 424 randomly selectedrnworkers from Kaliti and Fafa flour mill factories. Respiratory health symptoms were assessedrnusing an American Thoracic Society standard questionnaire customized with local context. Forrnpersonal dust exposure assessment a total of 50 personal dust samplers were collected from 25rnrandomly selected workers. A repeated sample was taken from five work sections having similarrnexposure group following Rappaport sampling recommendation. Epi-Info V. 7.2 and SPSS V.21rnstatistical software were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Descriptive statistics wasrnused, and data was presented using tables and figures. Gravimetric analysis of the filters wasrndone using a standard micro-balance with a detection limit 0.01mg in Environmental andrnOccupational Health accredited Laboratory, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University.rnThe dust level was described and compared with the threshold limit value of Americanrnconference of governmental industrial hygienist recommendation (10 mg/m3) for total dust. rnResults: Majority (92%) of workers were exceeded the threshold limit value recommended forrntotal dust (10 mg/mrn3rn). The prevalence of chronic respiratory health symptoms among flour millrnfactory workers was 58.3% (53.7-63.4). Chronic respiratory health symptoms were significantlyrnassociated with age group(AOR=1.95, 95%CI;1.17-2.79 and AOR=12.3, 95%CI;4.39-34.6),rnmonthly income (AOR=1.68, 95% CI;1-2.79), work experience (AOR=2.58, 95% CI;1-6.62),rnpast dust exposure (AOR=1.86, 95% CI;1.08-3.2) and utilization of respiratory protectivernequipment‘s (AOR=2.29, 95%CI;1.27-4.13).The GM (±GSD) of dust exposure level wasrn62.75(±12.55) mg/mrn3rn. rnConclusion and recommendation: Chronic respiratory health symptoms were highly prevalent rnamong flour mill factory workers and workers who exposed to flour dust concentration wasrnabove the acceptable recommended limit value. Supportive supervision and solution betweenrnMinistry of Labour and Social Affairs, flour mill managers and workers is needed to reducernexposure and improve working environment.

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