Lung ventilatory capacity and Respiratory symptoms among cement workers at Bukit Aman construction project site / Bitinsun Botinggo

The present cross-sectional study was aimed at assessing the lung ventilatory capacity and respiratory symptoms among cement workers as a consequence of cement dust exposure at Bukit Aman construction project site. A Modified American Thoracic Society Questionnaire (ATS - DLD - 78-A) was used to gain the information on health history and respiratory symptoms of exposed and control groups of respondent. Cement dust concentration at workplace was measured using Air Sampling Pump (Model Gi/Air-5/program - tri-mode air sampler) with filter 10 micron. Lung ventilatory test was carried out on thirty respondents from each exposed group and non exposed group respectively with using Chest Graph Spirometer Model HI-10 I. Forced vital capacity (FVC%) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVI %) was measured. Results found that the concentration of cement dust at workplace was 0.0535 mg/m3. Lung ventilatory capacity found that mean FVC% predicted of exposed (73.2±13.48) and control (82.7%±6.57). FEVl % predicted were 74.93±14.2(exposed) and 83.3±5.3(control). Respiratory symptoms among exposed respondent were from coughing (53.3%), sore throat (33.3%), phlegm (20%), breathlessness (13.3%) and runny nose (6%). In conclusion, lung ventilatory was lower in FCV% and FEVl % among exposed group than control group. Due to cement dust exposure, respiratory symptoms were significant in exposed group. It is recommended that Personal Protective Equipment should provided and engineering measures be adopted to reduce the dust level in the workplace, together with health monitoring of exposed employees.