ABSTRACT
Background: Sanitation workers are at a risk of exposure to various health hazards which are preventable. The present study aimed at assessing the health status of sewage treatment plant (STP) workers, their respiratory morbidity and onsite assessment of their occupational safety.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a single STP during June-July months of 2017. A total of 32 employees were enrolled in the study. Data collection was done using a questionnaire, clinical examination and onsite assessment for occupational safety. The questionnaire included demographic details, clinical symptoms and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Clinical examination with special focus on respiratory system and portable spirometry was conducted followed by health education on workplace safety. Descriptive statistics were reported as mean and standard deviation for continuous variables and frequency and proportion for categorical variable.Results: None of the workers underwent pre-placement health check-up and routine health check-ups at regular interval. PPE were available in adequate number. Spirometry revealed 12 workers having forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) within normal limits and seven workers with mild restriction. Early small airway obstruction was found in six workers. Regarding the on-site safety, an absence of barricades at two places near anaerobic sludge reactor and clarifier tank was of concern.Conclusions: The workers in STP are at risk of respiratory occupational hazards and should undergo pre-placement and routine health check-up for prevention of occupational hazards. Physical safety in terms of barricades at appropriate sites also needs attention.
ABSTRACT
Fluorosis is an important public health problem in certain parts of India. Nalgonda is one of the fluorosis endemic districts of Andhra Pradesh. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis in Panagal, one of the urban slum areas of Nalgonda town of Andhra Pradesh. 265 individuals residing in 92 households of five colonies of Panagal were selected by multi-stage random sampling. Fluorosis was assessed by standard clinical methods and water samples were tested for fluoride level. It was observed that mean fluoride level in ground water samples in the area was 4.01 mg/l and that of Nagarjunsagar water was 0.74 mg/l. The mean age of the study subjects in the area was 34.73 years. The overall prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was 24.9% and that of dental fluorosis was 30.6%. The prevalence increased with age. Skeletal and dental fluorosis is endemic in the study area.