Journal Article

Occupational hazards associated with respiratory symptoms among tannery and civil workers in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Alam, Ryadul, Porosh, Md Mushfiqur Rahman, Chowdhury, Juned Hussain, Nayon, Fahad Shahariar, Ripon, Rezaul Karim, Hossain, Shahriar, Rahman, Mahmudur

2025

Overview

ObjectivesWork-related respiratory ailments cause 10–20% of chronic respiratory diseases in hundreds of millions of people of all ages. Tanning workers endure toxic chemicals and poor air quality. Prevalence and occupational risk factors for Bangladesh’s respiratory illnesses are unknown. Bangladeshi tannery and civil workers were assessed for respiratory symptoms and risk factors. The aim of this research is to find out the factors which can cause respiratory problems among tannery workers as well as demonstrate the disparities in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among tannery workers and other civil workers to address their vulnerability.MethodA cross-sectional study was performed from 23 March to April 2023. Using stratified sampling, we included 400 participants. We employed a pretested American Thoracic Society Respiratory questionnaire administered by an interviewer for this investigation. A binary logistic regression and structural modelling equation were in this study.ResultThe prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was 64.8% and 6.5% among non-exposed workers (p<0. 0001). Compared with civil workers, tannery workers were 13.36 times more likely to have respiratory symptoms (adjusted OR (AOR): 13.36; 95% CI (4.70 to 37.96)). Male workers (AOR: 3.06; 95% CI (1.40 to 6.69)), age over 42 years (AOR: 3.47; 95% CI (1.27 to 9.45)), no education (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI (0.77 to 5.09)), job duration more than 6–10 years (AOR: 1.82; 95% CI (0.64 to 5.20)), poor ventilation (AOR: 2.68; 95% CI (1.26 to 5.70)), chemical exposure (AOR: 1.43; 95% CI (0.70 to 2.93)) and leather dust inhalation (OR: 1.46; 95% CI (0.61 to 3.49)) were significant factors of respiratory symptoms among workers.ConclusionsTanners had more respiratory ailments than civil servants. Respiratory symptoms at work were linked to gender, age, education, length of employment, number of hours worked, personal protective equipment, ventilation and chemical exposure. Health and safety training and workplace ventilation aid.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd,BMJ Publishing Group LTD,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Air quality / Chemicals / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Cross-Sectional Studies / Dust / Health risk assessment / Inhalation / Leather & leather products / Low income groups / Mortality / Occupational exposure / Occupational health / Occupational Medicine / Original research / Personal protective equipment / Protective equipment / Public Health / Respiratory diseases / Respiratory function / Risk factors / Sample size / Sampling error / Ventilation / Working conditions