Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2043
Environmental and Occupational Health Risks Among Agricultural Workers Living in a Rural Community near Petroleum Refinery and Motorway in Skopje Region
Jovanka Karadžinska-Bislimovska
; Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Jordan Minov
; Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Sašo Stoleski
; Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Dragan Mijakoski
; Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Snežana Risteska-Kuc
; Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Snežana Milkovska
; Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Abstract
To assess health risks in agricultural workers associated with environmental exposure to pollutants released from a petroleum refi nery and from traffi c, we performed a cross-sectional study that included 119 randomly selected subjects divided in two groups. Group 1 included 60 agricultural workers living in a rural community
near the petroleum refi nery and a motorway overpass, whereas Group 2 consisted of 59 agricultural workers performing similar activities and living in a rural community with no exposure to industrial and traffic pollutants. Risk assessment included a questionnaire, blood pressure measurement, spirometry, laboratory
tests, and toxicological analysis. The groups showed a similar prevalence of health problems, with exception of muscle pain in the extremities, headache, and fatigue, which were signifi cantly more common in Group 1. Diastolic blood pressure was higher in Group 1, but not signifi cantly (p=0.057). The same is true for blood carbon monoxide. Signifi cantly higher in Group 1 were blood haemoglobin (p=0.001) and blood lead (p<0.001). Serum cholinesterase activity was similar in both groups. Our fi ndings indicate the need of
regular medical exams, ambient monitoring and environmental impact assessment in agricultural population in order to detect individuals at risk and to institute adequate preventive measures.
Keywords
blood pressure; environmental exposure; haemoglobin; rural environment; toxicological analysis
Hrčak ID:
62467
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2010.
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