IJCRR

IJCRR - 5(4), February, 2013

Pages: 121-125

Date of Publication: 28-Feb-2013

EFFECT OF DURATION OF EXPOSURE TO SILICA DUST ON LUNG FUNCTION IMPAIRMENT IN STONE CRUSHER WORKERS OF MARATHWADA REGION

Author: Sachin B Rathod, Smita R. Sorte

Category: Healthcare

Abstract:Silicosis is one of the oldest occupational disease. It kills thousands of people every year all over the world. It is an irreversible fibrotic process without cure and so best treatment is prevention. Prevalence of silicosis in India differs according to amount of silica in dust and time interval of exposure. Due to lack of data from Marathwada region of Maharashtra, we aimed this study to know effect of duration of exposure to silica dust in stone crusher workers. A cross-sectional type of observational study was conducted. Pulmonary function tests were recorded in 120 male stone crusher workers. Intergroup statistical analysis amongst the workers depending on duration of exposure was carried out by Analysis of Variance (ANNOVA). We found that pulmonary function test bears relationship with duration of exposure, as the duration of exposure increases the pulmonary function tests goes on decreasing.

Keywords: Pulmonary function test, stone crusher workers, silica, lung function test, silicosis, duration of exposure

Full Text:

INTRODUCTION

Today the industrial revolution has brought about the remarkable changes in ecosystem and atmosphere. The stone crushing industry in India has been growing rapidly due to increasing demand from the construction industry and present emphasis on developing the country’s infrastructure. There are more than 12,000 stone crushing units in India (1), these stone crushing units are an unorganized sector of the country. The stone contains approximately 100% free silica and the stone crushing process liberates huge amount of respirable crystalline silica dust in the working environment. (2) Exposure to crystalline silica can result in respiratory and non- respiratory health effects. The first known respiratory ill effect due to inhaled crystalline silica was reported by ancient Greek as silicosis, which is one of the oldest occupational disease and still kills thousands of people every year all over the world. Silicosis is also known as Potter's rot. The full name of illness is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis. Exposure to large amount of free silica can pass unseen because silica is non-irritant, odorless and does not lead to any immediate evident effect and therefore confused with ordinary dust. The inhaled silica particles are removed from the lung at a very slow rate. Thus, even if exposure is stopped the retained particles may continue to exert their effect on lung. Leigh et al have estimated an annual incidence of occupational diseases between 9, 24,700 and 19, 02,300, leading to over 1, 21,000 deaths in India. (3) Studies carried out by National Institute of Occupational Health observed prevalence of some lung diseases are 54.5% in slate pencil (4), 15.2% in Potteries (5), 38% in Agate Polishing, 21% in Stone Quarries, and 12% in stone crushing.(6) Silicosis is an irreversible fibrotic process without a cure and so treatment rests on preventing insult to the lungs. Being a respiratory ailment, this group of disorder impairs the pulmonary function tests. (7) Very few epidemiological studies on silicosis are conducted in India showing the prevalence of silicosis as 12- 54%. (3) This varying prevalence in various sectors is credited to different silica concentration in the work environment and duration of exposure to Silica dust. Till date no study has been conducted on stone crusher workers of Marathwada region to find the effect of duration on pulmonary function test. Paucity of data provides strong rationale to initiate research on the effect of duration of exposure on lung function tests in stone crusher workers of Marathwada region.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

A cross-sectional type of observational study was conducted at 7 various stone crusher units of Marathwada region of Maharashtra, between the period December 2009 to July 2011. The pulmonary function tests were carried out in 120 male stone crusher workers. Selection criteria were male stone crusher workers aged between 25-55 years, exposed to stone dust for more than 5 years, non smokers and not suffering from any chronic disease. They were divided into three groups according to duration of exposure as 5- 10yrs (51 workers), 11-15yrs (42 workers) and >15yrs (27 workers). Institutional ethics committee approval was taken. Informed consent was taken from all the workers participating in the study. Pulmonary function tests was recorded on computerized ‘MEDSPIROR’ (manufactured by Recorders and Medicare System Pvt. Ltd, Chandigarh) a high performance pneumotachometer that fulfils the criteria for performance and reproducibility laid down by American Thoracic society (ATS). All tests were performed during morning hours. The procedure of lung function tests was explained to all subjects along with demonstration prior to recording. Proper trials were given to ensure that subjects understand and become confident about the whole procedure. The reading was taken in a comfortable upright sitting position in front of the apparatus. Then each subject was asked to perform forced Expiratory manoeuvre and maximum Ventilation volume manoeuvre .(8,9) For forced expiratory manoeuvre workers was asked to take a maximum inspiration then pinch nose and expire forcefully and completely in the mouthpiece of the instrument. For maximum Ventilation volume manoeuvre workers were asked to take a maximum inspiration then pinch his nose and expire as deeply and rapidly as possible for 6 seconds in the mouthpiece. Three readings were taken and best of these was taken for calculation. Parameters considered for study was forced vital capacity (FVC -lit), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1-lit), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR -lit/sec), maximum expiratory flow rate (FEF25-75 % - lit/sec), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV-lit/min). Intergroup statistical analysis amongst the workers depending on duration of exposure was carried out by Analysis of Variance (ANNOVA).

RESULT

Table no. 1 and graph no. 1 shows effect of duration of exposure on pulmonary function test on stone crusher workers. Stone crusher workers were grouped into three categories depending on duration of exposure, 5-10yrs (n=51), 11-15yrs (n=42) and >15yrs (n=27). The values of FVC (P<0.001), FEV1 (P<0.001), FEV1% (P<0.001), FEF25-75% (P<0.001), PEFR (P<0.001), and MVV (P<0.001) goes on decreasing in stone crusher workers as the duration of exposure to stone dust increases.

DISCUSSION

Silica and silicates constitute the bulk of most kind of rocks, clays and sands. (10) The silica dust which is ubiquitous in atmosphere still outnumbers the other type of dust, thus making silicosis most frequently occurring pneumoconiosis. (7) Silicosis is an irreversible fibrotic process without a cure, so it should be prevented by early diagnosis. Even if the exposure to dust is stopped, the silica keeps on producing its effect. Our study was aimed to find the effect of duration of exposure on lung function tests in stone crusher workers of Marathwada region We found that as the duration of exposure to dust increases, the pulmonary function test goes on detoriating in stone crusher workers of Marathwada region Many studies are in line with our study. Ghotkar et al (11), Lious S H et al (12), Koo Jung et al (13), Subbhasini et al (14), Tiwari R et al (7), Baharami et al34 (15), Chattopadhya et al2 (16) Johncy et al (17) observed that the pulmonary function tests decline gradually with increasing duration of exposure to dust. Workers exposed to silica dust affect airway patency and lung parenchyma. Prolonged exposure to silica will aggravate all these changes in the lungs and hence all the pulmonary function tests values decreased, as the duration of exposure to silica dust goes on increasing. Decreased Fev1 and fev1% indicated obstructive changes, decreased Fev1 25-75 indicates small airway obstruction and decreased PEFR and indicates large airway obstruction. Decreased FVC indicates restrictive changes. In our study decreased values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, FEF25-75%, PEFR, MVV shows, mixed type of lung function impairment in stone crusher workers exposed to stone crushing dust. Hertzberg et al (18), Urom et al (19) observed restrictive type of lung function impairment. Ghotkar et al (11) concluded that obstructive type of changes was observed in quartz workers. Tiwari R et al (7), Chatopahay et al (16), Jayawardhane et.al (20) said that workers exposed to silica dust shows obstructive and restrictive type of lung function impairment. We concludes pulmonary function test bears relationship with duration of exposure, as the duration of exposure increases the pulmonary function tests goes on decreasing.

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