title: Environmental and occupational health risks among agricultural workers living in a rural community near petroleum refinery and motorway in Skopje region.
abstract: To assess health risks in agricultural workers associated with environmental exposure to pollutants released from a petroleum refinery and from traffic, we performed a cross-sectional study that included 119 randomly selected subjects divided in two groups. Group 1 included 60 agricultural workers living in a rural community near the petroleum refinery and a motorway overpass, whereas Group 2 consisted of 59 agricultural workers performing similar activities and living in a rural community with no exposure to industrial and traffic pollutants. Risk assessment included a questionnaire, blood pressure measurement, spirometry, laboratory tests, and toxicological analysis. The groups showed a similar prevalence of health problems, with exception of muscle pain in the extremities, headache, and fatigue, which were significantly more common in Group 1. Diastolic blood pressure was higher in Group 1, but not significantly (p=0.057). The same is true for blood carbon monoxide. Significantly higher in Group 1 were blood haemoglobin (p=0.001) and blood lead (p<0.001). Serum cholinesterase activity was similar in both groups. Our findings indicate the need of regular medical exams, ambient monitoring and environmental impact assessment in agricultural population in order to detect individuals at risk and to institute adequate preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia, WHO Collaborating Center Skopje, II Makedonska Brigada 43, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. bislimovska_j@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jovanka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karadžinska-Bislimovska
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minov
authors.forename: Sašo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoleski
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mijakoski
authors.forename: Snežana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Risteska-Kuc
authors.forename: Snežana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milkovska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000097:blood; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010578:Petroleum; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010578:Petroleum; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002802:Cholinesterases