Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia
Objectives: Eucalyptus trees are used in the particleboard wood industry in Ethiopia. Dust and chemicals from this production may cause respiratory health problems, but the exposure levels have not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to assess workers’ exposure to inhalable dust, endo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Japan Society for Occupational Health
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Environmental and Occupational Health Practice |
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| _version_ | 1818737632714162176 |
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| author | Akeza Awealom Asgedom Magne Bråtveit Vivi Schlünssen Bente Elisabeth Moen |
| author_facet | Akeza Awealom Asgedom Magne Bråtveit Vivi Schlünssen Bente Elisabeth Moen |
| author_sort | Akeza Awealom Asgedom |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: Eucalyptus trees are used in the particleboard wood industry in Ethiopia. Dust and chemicals from this production may cause respiratory health problems, but the exposure levels have not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to assess workers’ exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the two largest particleboard factories in Ethiopia, and compare the results with occupational exposure limits. Methods: A total of 152 inhalable dust and endotoxin samples were collected using a conductive plastic inhalable conical sampler (CIS), in addition to 45 formaldehyde samples using Dräger tubes for collection in two particleboard factories in Ethiopia. Linear mixed models were used to identify exposure determinants. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of inhalable dust exposure was 4.66 mg/m3 and 93% of the samples were above the threshold limit value of 1 mg/m3. For endotoxin exposure GM was 62.2 EU/m3, and 41% of samples were above the recommended occupational limit value of 90 EU/m3. Formaldehyde was added in a blending section of the production line, and the formaldehyde level was highest here (3.5 ppm). The level decreased at the workstations following blending, and 13% of the formaldehyde samples were above the peak exposure limit value of 1.0 ppm. Conclusions: The findings revealed exposure levels higher than recommended for inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the particleboard factories. A reduction in dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde exposure levels in these workplaces is recommended. We also recommend provision of proper personal protective equipment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T00:56:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f38549a0c334c38883c3b01e9aa7ef2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2434-4931 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T00:56:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Japan Society for Occupational Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental and Occupational Health Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f38549a0c334c38883c3b01e9aa7ef22022-12-21T21:26:32ZengJapan Society for Occupational HealthEnvironmental and Occupational Health Practice2434-49312020-09-012110.1539/eohp.2019-0016-OAExposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in EthiopiaAkeza Awealom Asgedom0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4063-9939Magne Bråtveit1Vivi Schlünssen2Bente Elisabeth Moen3Department of Environmental Health and Behavioral Science, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, EthiopiaDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Public Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark;National Research Center for the Working Environment, DenmarkCentre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, NorwayObjectives: Eucalyptus trees are used in the particleboard wood industry in Ethiopia. Dust and chemicals from this production may cause respiratory health problems, but the exposure levels have not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to assess workers’ exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the two largest particleboard factories in Ethiopia, and compare the results with occupational exposure limits. Methods: A total of 152 inhalable dust and endotoxin samples were collected using a conductive plastic inhalable conical sampler (CIS), in addition to 45 formaldehyde samples using Dräger tubes for collection in two particleboard factories in Ethiopia. Linear mixed models were used to identify exposure determinants. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of inhalable dust exposure was 4.66 mg/m3 and 93% of the samples were above the threshold limit value of 1 mg/m3. For endotoxin exposure GM was 62.2 EU/m3, and 41% of samples were above the recommended occupational limit value of 90 EU/m3. Formaldehyde was added in a blending section of the production line, and the formaldehyde level was highest here (3.5 ppm). The level decreased at the workstations following blending, and 13% of the formaldehyde samples were above the peak exposure limit value of 1.0 ppm. Conclusions: The findings revealed exposure levels higher than recommended for inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the particleboard factories. A reduction in dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde exposure levels in these workplaces is recommended. We also recommend provision of proper personal protective equipment.dustendotoxinethiopiaeucalyptusformaldehydeparticleboard |
| spellingShingle | Akeza Awealom Asgedom Magne Bråtveit Vivi Schlünssen Bente Elisabeth Moen Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia Environmental and Occupational Health Practice dust endotoxin ethiopia eucalyptus formaldehyde particleboard |
| title | Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia |
| title_full | Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia |
| title_short | Exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | exposure to inhalable dust endotoxin and formaldehyde in factories processing particleboards from eucalyptus trees in ethiopia |
| topic | dust endotoxin ethiopia eucalyptus formaldehyde particleboard |
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