Assessment of health status of workers in a major waste dumpsite with special emphasis on liver disease

ABSTRACT

This study was done on 168 male workers, engaged in the whole cycle of solid waste management at Shubramant Dumpsite at Giza Governorate, to assess different health hazards, emphasizing the liver disease. All subjects under the study were subjected to complete clinical assessment, screening by abdominal ultrasonography, serologic tests for HBV and HCV as well as biochemical tests for liver and kidney functions and complete blood picture. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed various abnormalities among 81.6% of the studied workers as follows Bilharzial [68.45%], bright liver [10.71%], hepatomegaly [8.32%], liver cirrhosis [2.38%] and portal hypertension [1.2%]. Hydronephrosis and hydroureter were elicited in 1.79% of the cases. Anti HCV +ve cases were elicited in 37 workers, while anti HBV +ve cases were elicited only in 9 workers. All laboratory findings and skin diseases encountered were detailed. There was a positive relation between the duration of employment and musculoskeletal and eye complaints as well as ultrasonographic findings, especially the liver. Except for past exposure history, kidney stones, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, normal and infectious cases of skin, no statistically significant differences were elicited between those exposed directly or indirectly to various hazards of waste among the investigated subjects: