Lung Function Impact from Working in the Pre-Revolution Libyan Quarry Industry

Marwan M. Draid, Khaled M. Ben-Elhaj, Ashraf M. Ali, Kendra K. Schmid and Shawn G. Gibbs
Additional contact information
Marwan M. Draid: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Forensic Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli 13662, Libya
Khaled M. Ben-Elhaj: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, Biochemistry & Animal nutrition, University of Tripoli, Tripoli 13662, Libya
Ashraf M. Ali: Division of Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, The Libyan Academy, Janzour 72331, Libya
Kendra K. Schmid: Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
Shawn G. Gibbs: Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-7

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the lung impact from working within the Libyan quarry industry, and if the length of work impacted the degree of degradation. Eighty three workers from eight silica quarries in the Nafusa Mountains of Libya opted to participate. These quarries were working the upper cretaceous geological structure. Eighty-five individuals who lived in Gharyan City with no affiliation to quarry operations participated as controls. Spirometry variables evaluated were Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume at 1.0 second (FEV1), FVC/FEV1 and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). Control and exposed groups had no differences in terms of height, weight, or smoking status ( p = 0.18, 0.20, 0.98, respectively). Prior to adjustment for other variables, FVC, FEV1, and PEF are all significantly lower in the exposed group ( p = 0.003, 0.009, 0.03, respectively). After adjustment for age, height, weight, and smoking status, there remain significant differences between the control and exposed groups for FVC, FEV1, and PEF. This analysis demonstrated that exposure to quarry dust has a detrimental effect on lung function, and that pre-revolution Libyan quarry workers were being exposed. This study shows that any exposure is harmful, as the reduction in lung function was not significantly associated with years of exposure.

Keywords: Libya; lung function; occupational health; quarry workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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