Health survey in gypsum mines in India

<b>Background:</b> Mining is a hazardous occupation in which workers are exposed to adverse conditions. In India, gypsum mining is mainly carried out in the state of Rajasthan, which contributes about 99&#x0025; of the total production.<b> Objective:</b> The present st...

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Main Authors: Nandi Subroto, Dhatrak Sarang, Chaterjee Debasis, Dhumne Umesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Community Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2009;volume=34;issue=4;spage=343;epage=345;aulast=Nandi
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author Nandi Subroto
Dhatrak Sarang
Chaterjee Debasis
Dhumne Umesh
author_facet Nandi Subroto
Dhatrak Sarang
Chaterjee Debasis
Dhumne Umesh
author_sort Nandi Subroto
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Mining is a hazardous occupation in which workers are exposed to adverse conditions. In India, gypsum mining is mainly carried out in the state of Rajasthan, which contributes about 99&#x0025; of the total production.<b> Objective:</b> The present study was carried out in 12 different gypsum mines in Rajasthan state to determine the health status of the miners. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> One hundred and fifty workers engaged in mining activities were included in the study and their health status was compared with that of 83 office staff of the same mines. The health status of the employees was evaluated using a standardized medical questionnaire and pulmonary function testing. <b> Statistical Analysis:</b> The unpaired &#x2032;t&#x2032; test was used to determine whether there was any significant difference between the miners and the controls and the chi-square test to compare the prevalences of various respiratory impairments in workers with that in controls; we also examined the differences between smokers and nonsmokers.<b> Results:</b> Our findings show that the literacy rate is low (42&#x0025;) among the miners. Pulmonary restrictive impairment was significantly higher amongst smokers as compared to nonsmokers in both miners and controls. Hypertension (22.6&#x0025;), diabetes (8.8&#x0025;), and musculoskeletal morbidity (8&#x0025;) were the common diseases in miners.<b> Conclusion:</b> This study shows that there is high morbidity amongst miners, thus indicating the need for regular health checkups, health education, use of personal protective devices, and engineering measures for control of the workplace environment.
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spelling doaj.art-1dfd0fa917824e0bb078523a7dcdf8d12022-12-21T22:38:31ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Community Medicine0970-02181998-35812009-01-01344343345Health survey in gypsum mines in IndiaNandi SubrotoDhatrak SarangChaterjee DebasisDhumne Umesh<b>Background:</b> Mining is a hazardous occupation in which workers are exposed to adverse conditions. In India, gypsum mining is mainly carried out in the state of Rajasthan, which contributes about 99&#x0025; of the total production.<b> Objective:</b> The present study was carried out in 12 different gypsum mines in Rajasthan state to determine the health status of the miners. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> One hundred and fifty workers engaged in mining activities were included in the study and their health status was compared with that of 83 office staff of the same mines. The health status of the employees was evaluated using a standardized medical questionnaire and pulmonary function testing. <b> Statistical Analysis:</b> The unpaired &#x2032;t&#x2032; test was used to determine whether there was any significant difference between the miners and the controls and the chi-square test to compare the prevalences of various respiratory impairments in workers with that in controls; we also examined the differences between smokers and nonsmokers.<b> Results:</b> Our findings show that the literacy rate is low (42&#x0025;) among the miners. Pulmonary restrictive impairment was significantly higher amongst smokers as compared to nonsmokers in both miners and controls. Hypertension (22.6&#x0025;), diabetes (8.8&#x0025;), and musculoskeletal morbidity (8&#x0025;) were the common diseases in miners.<b> Conclusion:</b> This study shows that there is high morbidity amongst miners, thus indicating the need for regular health checkups, health education, use of personal protective devices, and engineering measures for control of the workplace environment.http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2009;volume=34;issue=4;spage=343;epage=345;aulast=NandiGypsum mineminersmorbiditypulmonary impairment
spellingShingle Nandi Subroto
Dhatrak Sarang
Chaterjee Debasis
Dhumne Umesh
Health survey in gypsum mines in India
Indian Journal of Community Medicine
Gypsum mine
miners
morbidity
pulmonary impairment
title Health survey in gypsum mines in India
title_full Health survey in gypsum mines in India
title_fullStr Health survey in gypsum mines in India
title_full_unstemmed Health survey in gypsum mines in India
title_short Health survey in gypsum mines in India
title_sort health survey in gypsum mines in india
topic Gypsum mine
miners
morbidity
pulmonary impairment
url http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2009;volume=34;issue=4;spage=343;epage=345;aulast=Nandi
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AT dhatraksarang healthsurveyingypsumminesinindia
AT chaterjeedebasis healthsurveyingypsumminesinindia
AT dhumneumesh healthsurveyingypsumminesinindia