Respiratory hazards among workers in ammonium nitrate fertilizer industry

ABSTRACT

300 workers emloyed in ammonium nitrate fertilizer plant were examined. The investigations showed that 180 workers [60%] suffer from respiratory diseases. Chronic bronchitis [30%], acute bronchitis [12%], asthmatic bronchitis [7%] were the commonest respiratory diseases. Pulmonary tuberculosis was discovered in 3% of workers. The different distribution of each respiratory disease among different departments of the fertilizer plant was explained by the difference in ammonia, nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations in each individual department