RISK ASSESSMENT OF RESPIRABLE DUST EXPOSURE AND INHALED MICROPLASTIC POTENTIAL ON LUNG FUNCTION DISORDERS LAUNDRY WORKERS

• Main Author: Nadira, Amira
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/67516
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Microplastics come from a variety of sources including synthetic fibers, industrial processes, household dust, and plastic surface damage. The clothes dryer in the laundry produces greater microplastic emissions compared to the effluent from the laundry. To assess the risk analysis of respiratory dust exposure and the potential for inhaled microplastic exposure, samples were taken using the Hi Flow Personal Sampler. The results showed that the average respiratory dust concentration in the exposed group was 0,00186 ± 0,0010 mg/m³ and 0,00214 ± 0,0007 mg/m³ for the unexposed group. The relationship between the dose of respirable dust on the body's response in the form of a decrease in the value of lung function is positive and significant. The respiratory dust exposure hazard index can still be said to be safe or the HI value 1. Microplastic observations were carried out using a stereo microscope and identified an average of 4,57 ± 3,05 particles/m in the Unexposed group and 6,90 ± 5,65 particles/m³ in the exposed group. The most common microplastic polymers found in the samples were PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate), PU (Polyrethane), EP (epoxy/epoxide resin), PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), and Polyolefin, PS (Polystyrene). The evaluation of the correlation of microplastics with FEV1.0 showed a positive and insignificant correlation for the unexposed group, while the evaluation of the correlation of microplastics with FEV1.0 showed a negative and significant correlation for the exposed group.