Objective To assess the health status of workers exposed to formaldehyde in medium density fiberboard (MDF) production, and to provide a scientific basis for occupational health interventions and strategies.
Methods Three MDF manufacturers were selected using cluster sampling. Glue workers, pavers, hot pressed workers, and hot mill workers with occupational exposure to formaldehyde were selected as the exposed group (n=131), and those without formaldehyde exposure such as office clerks, logistics staff, and purchasers were selected as the control group (n=80). All participants were invited to physical examination performed by specialists.
Results The workers in the exposed group reported significantly higher proportions of having eye irritation, tearing, nasal irritation, cough, sputum, dry respiratory conditions, headache, and dizziness than the workers in the control group (P < 0.05). The routine blood test results showed that the exposed group workers' blood platelet count were higher than the controls' (P < 0.05), but the counts of leukocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, and hemoglobin were lower than those of the controls (P > 0.05). The blood biochemical examination results revealed that the average total cholesterol of the exposed group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05), though both were still within normal bounds. The pulmonary function test results showed that the average force vital capacity of the exposed group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion In the investigated MDF manufacturing enterprises, long-term exposure to formaldehyde might pose adverse health effects on workers, so effective protection measures and regular occupational health surveillance should be performed to improve workers' occupational health.
DownLoad: