Study of health status among sewage workers in Al-Ain city, United Arab Emirates

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the health status and possible biochemical changes among sewage workers in Al-Ain City in the United Arab Emirates. This study included 153 male Filippino workers in Al-Ain sewage worker and control subjects of similar age and social status. Each sewage worker and control subject was interviewed for his personal, social, occupational and medical histories with special reference to smoking habits, drug intake, family and past histories of diseases. Each was further subjected to clinical examination; measurements of height, weight and blood pressure. Blood samples were collected for the assessment of such biochemical findings as GLU, BUN, CREA, CA, ALO, AST, GGT and TBIL. Respiratory, eye and skin affections, frequent headache, backache, levels of serum AST and TBIL were significantly higher in the sewage workers than controls. These findings might be attributed to the multifactorial stresses associated with the working environment of the sewage workers; accordingly it is suggested that sewage work may be a factor in the increased prevalence of health changes and disturbances of liver function among sewage. It is recommended that the pre-employment workers should pay adequate attention to these issues; also that health and safety education be given in parallel with improving working environment in relation to environmental stresses