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Impact of air quality on the health of present-day workers in an Asbestos roof manufacturing industry, Sri Lanka

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Abstract

The study’s objective was to determine the air quality in an asbestos-related industry and its impact on current workers’ respiratory health. Seventy-seven air and 65 dust samples were collected at 5-day intervals in an asbestos roofing sheets production factory in Sri Lanka having two production facilities. Sampling was performed in ten sites: Defective sheets-storage, Production-plant, Pulverizer, Cement-silo, and Loading-area. A detailed questionnaire and medical screening were conducted on 264 workers, including Lung Function Tests (LFT) and chest X-rays. Asbestos fibres were observed in deposited dust samples collected from seven sites. Free chrysotile fibres were absent in the breathing air samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed the presence of asbestos fibres, and the Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis revealed Mg, O, and Si in depositions. The average concentrations of trace metals were Cd-2.74, Pb-17.18, Ni-46.68, Cr-81.01, As-7.12, Co-6.77, and Cu-43.04 mg/kg. The average Zn, Al, Mg, and Fe concentrations were within 0.2–163 g/kg. The highest concentrations of PM2.52.5 and PM1010, 258 and 387 µg/m3, respectively, were observed in the Pulverizer site. Forty-four workers had respiratory symptoms, 64 presented LFT abnormalities, 5 indicated chest irregularities, 35.98% were smokers, and 37.5% of workers with abnormal LFT results were smokers. The correlation coefficients between LFT results and work duration with respiratory symptoms and work duration and chest X-ray results were 0.022 and 0.011, respectively. In conclusion, most pulmonary disorders observed cannot directly correlate to Asbestos exposure due to negligible fibres in breathing air, but fibres in the depositions and dust can influence the pulmonary health of the employees.

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Acknowledgements

National Research Council, Sri Lanka (NRC Grant AB 19-002) is gratefully acknowledged for awarding a research grant. Prof. H. A. Dharmagunawardane and the Working group on the Safe Use of Chrysotile Asbestos in Sri Lanka are acknowledged for their assistance in conducting the research. The management and the staff of the Asbestos Roofing company are acknowledged for the support extended in conducting the research.

Funding

National Research Council, Sri Lanka (NRC Grant AB 19-002) is gratefully acknowledged for awarding a research grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Rd, Kandy, 20000, Sri Lanka

    W. B. C. P. Weerarathne, A. C. Wijayasinghe, Meththika Vithanage & D. N. Magana-Arachchi

  2. Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka

    M. Sewwandi & Meththika Vithanage

  3. General Teaching Hospital, Kandy, 20000, Sri Lanka

    R. M. D. Madegedara

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  1. W. B. C. P. Weerarathne
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study and take responsibility for the data's integrity and the data analysis's accuracy. WBCPW performed Experimentation, data interpretation, data validation, and writing of the first draft, MS wrote the final draft and manuscript preparation, ACW supervised analyzing crystallography, morphological features and particle sizes, RMDM supervised screening workers for respiratory diseases and overall medical investigations, MV supervised chemical analysis for bioavailable metals and risk assessment, reviewing and editing the manuscript, DNM conceptualization, conducting the epidemiological survey on workers, overall supervision, project administration, funding acquisition, writing, reviewing, and editing the manuscript. The manuscript was written with contributions from all authors. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Meththika Vithanage or D. N. Magana-Arachchi.

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Weerarathne, W.B.C.P., Sewwandi, M., Wijayasinghe, A.C. et al. Impact of air quality on the health of present-day workers in an Asbestos roof manufacturing industry, Sri Lanka. Environ Geochem Health 46, 201 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-01973-w

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