GENERAL AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GASES IN BOTTLE-GAS TUBES FACTORY

Abstract

Introduction: Liquefied petroleum gas consists of commercial mixture as butane, propane, ethane, pentane and sulphur based odorizing agent. Acute, subacute or chronic diseases especially respiratory and skin diseases may occur due to the exposure to the toxic gases during the industrial processes. Aim of Work: To asses respiratory and some other health hazards associated with chronic direct exposure to liquefied petroleum gas. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted including 137 gas attendant workers comprising about 83 workers,11 technicians, 7 drivers and 36 supervisors. All the studied workers completed the questionnaire and pulmonary function tests were performed for 115 of them Results: About (71.5%) of the sample aged ≥40 years, with mean working duration of 19.27 ± 6.41, 44.5 % were smokers and 83.9% reported regular use of