ABSTRACT
Introduction Exposure to dust due to stone quarrying can cause severe respiratory ailments. Besides lung problems, research shows that exposure to quarry dust may also increase the risk of health problems affecting the heart, liver, kidney, central nervous system, and other organs. Despite the fact that a lot of studies have been reported on the respiratory system, our aim was to explore the evidence on the association between occupational exposure to quarry dust and its effect on renal health. Methodology This study was conducted on 75 quarry workers and 45 healthy matched controls were recruited from Allukuzhi village. Blood samples were collected and their kidney parameters were assessed in Hitech Diagnostics, Kanchipuram. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and strength of association was determined by Pearson correlation at significance p=0.05*. Results The obtained results showed a significant increase in the level of creatinine (1.02±0.31), urea (24.62±8.52), and uric acid (5.13±1.31) in quarry workers upon the duration of exposure to quarry dust compared with control subjects (p < 0.05*). Conclusion The results of this study suggest a significant correlation between exposure to quarry dust and its reduced renal function. This could suggest that the quarry work site should have proper hazard control measures and safety precautionary equipment for the workers. Also, to be educated about the importance of the safety measures which have to be practiced in order to protect them from occupational hazards.
