The lung function performance and factors contributing to respiratory health among waste collectors / Nadin Nadhirah Mohd Shukri

Study on respiratory health among waste collectors is important in order to identify the environmental, physical of the job and condition that may impact their health condition. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine level of lung function performance among waste collectors in Hulu Selangor. A cross sectional study was carried out among municipal waste collectors where they are constantly exposed to the risk and hazard in working environment. Data collected involved 76 of the waste collectors. Each individual has been demonstrated with correct procedure of Peak Flow Meter (PEFR) with duration of 5 minutes. Participant is required to stand straight and a nose clip is given to be placed on the nose. Participant need to breathe in and out normally. Secondly, they were required to breathe in as deep as possible before placing the mouth piece in the mouth. Then, immediately breathe out as hard as possible to get the reading. The highest reading of three measurements was selected to determine the PEFR. The study found that PEFR is decreasing with the increasing in age. Association between respiratory symptoms of smokers and non-smokers group and lung function performance are found to be significant where it shows the lung function performance of the workers are significantly low and affected from the smoking habit. Duration of employment also seem to affect the force vital capacity of the waste collectors. Smokers group are found to experience cough during day/night; phlegm; and shortness of breath and among non-smokers groups with p-value less than 0.05 found to significantly experience cough and chest pain. Working in the municipal solid waste industry has high occupational risk and exposure. Smoking habit also give an impact in the Peak expiratory flow measurement.