PM10 and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in Furniture Industry Workers

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) ranks first among the ten largest diseases in West and East Cilebut, caused by the development of furniture industry. Cross sectional method is used in this study to know the relationship between PM10 and ARI among the whole population of workers in the furniture industry in Cilebut, both in the west and the east of this industry area. The study found concentrations of PM10 50,3 μg/m3 – of 80 μg/m3 with an average of 70,6 μg/m3 in 24 hours of measurement. There were 43 workers who suffered from ARI. The study showed there was a relationship between PM10 concentration, the temperature of the study (p = 0.027), years of service (p = 0.010), use of personal protective equipment (p = 0.001), smoking habits (p = 0.39), and ARI incidences. It is, therefore, necessary to control environmental health and the health of workers periodically through examination of PM10 concentration and through workers’ health checks. In addition, educative information should be disseminated to all parties concerned in order to increase knowledge and the awareness of the impact created by the furniture industry on both the environment and the workers.