EFFECT OF STONE DUST ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WORKERS IN MARBLE INDUSTRIES OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Various industrial dust pollution causes different health problems in workers including respiratory complaint, eye and skin disorders. Based on the concentration and chemical nature, stone dust also effect the liver and kidney related parameters especially in stone crushing workers. The purpose and aims of this study was to report for the first time the effect of stone dust on the health status of worker in marble industries of Pakistan.  In the current study the effect of stone crushing dust on liver and kidney related serum parameters were estimated among the stone crusher’s workers in marble factories at district Mardan and Charsadda of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected from 180 stone crushing workers (aged 20-60 years), grouped as exposed workers and 180 unexposed healthy persons considered as healthy control. The exposed workers were further classified on the basis of age, time of exposure to stone dust, disease and smoking history.  The liver and kidney related serum biochemical parameters  were evaluated through wet reagent diagnostic kits while a standardized questionnaire was used for risk factors assessment. The results indicate a considerable raise in liver related parameters such as serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT), bilirubin and manganese in workers, compared to control group. Creatinine results of kidney related serum parameter also confirmed increased levels in exposed workers as compared to healthy control. Overall result indicated that the mean values of liver and kidney related parameters were considerably high (SGTP level 130 ± 5.42U/L, Bilirubin level 1.7 ± 0.13 mg/dl and Cretinine level 2.31 ± 0.14mg/dl)in exposed workers than healthy control (SGTP level27 ± 2.23 U/L,  Bilirubin  level 0.62 ± 0.02 mg/dl and creatinine level 0.82 ± 0.04 mg/dl). The stone dust also leads to improvement in respiratory and skin infection due to lack of protective equipment among manual stone-quarry workers. It is concluded that chronic exposure of workers to stone dust in marble factories induces irregular elevation in the normal value of serum GPT, bilirubin, creatinine and manganese due to hazard effect on liver and kidney and also causes severe medical complications related to skin and respiratory system.