HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF LIMESTONE DUST EXPOSURE TO DECREASED LUNG FUNCTION OF WORKERS (CASE STUDY: LIMESTONE INDUSTRY PT. X, PADALARANG)

• Main Author: Dwi Kartini, Retnovita
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/32118
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The Karst Citatah in Padalarang is a limestone area. Therefore, there were many industries established to produce limestone products. The activities in this industry are very potent to release limestone dust which consists of crystalline silica. The most abundant form of crystalline silica is quartz, if this material is inhaled by the workers will cause an arthritis, autoimmune disorder, silicosis, and even cause lung cancer. PT.X’s workers are very prone to inhale this crystalline silica. The purpose of this research is to analyze the risk of respirable limestone dust exposure to health and the possibility of the decrease of lung function of workers in PT.X. This cross-sectional research was done with an exposed group of 30 people and control group of 14 people. Respirable limestone dust was measured by using personal sampler pump based on NIOSH 7500 standard. Furthermore, this sample analyzed by the XRD method based on MDHS 101 to measure the percentage of crystalline silica. From the measurement and calculation of exposure in 30 respondents, there were 4 respondents perceived respirable dust which exceeded TLV by Permenakertrans No.PER.13/ MEN/ X/ 2011, TLV ACGIH, and REL NIOSH and also 1 respondent perceived respirable dust exceeded PEL OSHA There were 5 work locations: mobile, 30 mesh machine, 150 mesh machine, 200 mesh machine, and 400 mesh machine. The highest proportion perceived by respondents at 200 mesh machine. There were 37.5% of respondents received respirable limestone dust exposure which exceeded TLV. Based on Kruskal Wallis comparative test, the p-value was 0.000 (p < 0.05), which indicates the significant differences in the proportion of respondents who received respirable limestone dust exposure which exceed TLV in each machine. The results of XRD analysis showed that respirable limestone dust consists of 0.2% crystalline silica. ADD value was influeced by the concentration of respirable limestone dust. Therefore, there were a difference proportion of respondents ADD value in each machine. There were no respondent neither in exposed and unexposed group which got Hazard Index over 1 (HI > 1). The dose of respirable limestone dust was not harmful to respondent’s lung function value.