الفهرس Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 223 |  |  |
| | | from | 223 | | |
Abstract
Crude oils are complex mixtures containing many different hydrocarbon compounds that vary in appearance and composition from one oil field to another.
During refinery process, many emissions like volatile organic compounds, particulates, and some serious gases e.g. ( hydrogen sulfide, sulfer dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia) are produced with wide range of toxicities.
Egypt has eight refineries (El Mex, Amerya, El Suez, El Nasr, Mostorod, Tanta, Asyut and Wadi Feiran) with a combined crude oil capacity in excess of 578,000 bbl/d.
So this comparative cross sectional study was carried out to determine the adverse respiratory health effects among oil refinery workers of Cairo Oil Refinery Company (CORC) at Mostorod that exposed to the emitted pollutants by the refinery including many gases e.g. (SO2, H2S, NO2, NH3, CO and CO2), volatile organic hydrocarbons and particulates. Also it aimed to identify some occupational , environmental and personal risk factors associated with adverse respiratory health effects and to recommend some important preventive and safety measures that can be of great help for such workers.
The present study included the morning work shift workers of Cairo Oil Refinery Company at Mostorod. the total number of workers were 187, 113 workers were exposed to different emissions (gases, hydrocarbons, and particulates) present in the work environment of the company and 74 workers were non-exposed as they were administrative staff.
All workers were subjected to full medical history, occupational history, physical examination, pulmonary fuction using vitalograph, 18 workers of maintenance section were subjected to plain chest X-ray P.A view.
In the present study, there is a highly significant increase in the percentage of chronic respiratory symptoms among exposed workers (36.3%) than among controls (16.2%). Also, it was noticed that the prevalence of acute work related symptoms was significantly higher in exposed workers compared to non-exposed.
On studying the effect of many risk factors such as, age, duration of employment, work sections, smoking, atopy, and the use of protective devices, the results of univariate analysis showed that, the risk of chronic respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was significantly higher among smokers (current and ex-smokers) and those with longer duration of employment (≥ 12 year) (OR = 3.55, 95% CI; 1.06 – 12.24) and (OR =3.19, 95% CI; 1.32 – 7.80) respectively. While, the other mentioned factors showed non significant relation. Moreover, the risk of acute work-related symptoms was significantly higher among non-users of protective devices during work (OR = 7.67, 95% CI; 1.65 – 36.29).
Also, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that, the risk of chronic respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was significantly higher among smokers (current and ex-smokers) and those with longer duration of employment (≥ 12 year) (OR = 3.43, 95% CI; 1.01 – 12.16) and (OR =3.26, 95% CI; 1.34 – 7.85) respectively.
Our study revealed that, exposed workers had significantly lower mean values of FVC% P., FEV1% P., FEV1/ FVC%, and MEFR% P. (83.9 + 6.78), (79.8 + 10.05), (74.4 + 5.95) and (77.7 + 10.03) respectively compared to those of non-exposed group (88.4 + 4.24), (86.2 + 7.32), (76.5 + 4.25) and (80.5 + 6.25) respectively.
In this study, exposed workers had significantly higher risk for obstructive pattern of pulmonary dysfunction than did the control group (OR = 2.22, 95% CI; 1.01 – 4.98).
On studying the effect of many risk factors such as, age, duration of employment, work sections, smoking, atopy, and the use of protective devices, the results of univariate analysis showed that, the prevalence of obstructive pulmonary impairment among exposed workers was significantly higher among smokers (current and ex-smokers) and those with longer duration of employment (≥ 12 year) (OR = 3.7, 95% CI; 1.11 – 12.56) and (OR = 2.77, 95% CI; 1.10 – 7.05) respectively.
Also, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that, the prevalence of obstructive pulmonary impairment among exposed workers was significantly higher among smokers (current and ex-smokers) and those with longer duration of employment (≥ 12 year) (OR = 3.61, 95% CI; 1.10 – 12.49) and (OR = 2.92, 95% CI; 1.24 – 7.16) respectively.
In the present study, 17 of 18 (94.5 %) maintenance workers in CORC had normal chest x-ray pictures, while, only one worker (5.5 %) showed emphysematous changes and exaggerated bronchovascular markings which are consistent with COPD.
Records of environmental monitoring at Cairo oil refinery company showed that all measurements of the emitted gases, hydrocarbons, and particulates in the different sectors and units of the company were below the permissible levels.
Finally, it was recommended that proper selection of the workers, periodic medical examination, periodic environmental assessment, proper and regular use of respiratory protective equipments, restriction of smoking, as well as health education can be of help to minimize the risk of respiratory hazards in oil refineries.