The Study of Respiratory Health and Musculoskeletal Disorders of Tollbooth Collectors

• Main Authors: Yu-Fu Chen, 陳昱甫
• Other Authors: Chun-Yuh Yang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2000
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/09466927619109336162

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 公共衛生學研究所 === 88 === The aims of this cross-sectional study was to examine the effects of automobile exhaust on respiratory symptoms and irritative symptoms, and to evaluate the relations between the musculoskeletal disorders and work related postures such as repetitive movements of upper limbs and long-hour standing. The study subjects were 484 female toll collectors at the Chung-Shan freeway tollbooths (exposure group) and 237 female office employees with the National Freeway Bureau (control group). The data were collected using self-reported questionnaires mail with response rates of 96.5% among exposure group and 77.6% among control group. Individuals with an employment history of less than six months, ever smoking, and having respiratory disease history prior to the age of sixteen year were excluded for data analysis. For the analysis of musculoskeletal effects, we excluded individuals with a work history of less than six months. The level of automobile exhaust that toll collectors exposed to was estimated using the average daily vehicle flow at each toll station in 1998. For all respiratory symptoms, the exposure group were at higher risk than controls, but not significant. Acute irritative symptoms were more prevalent in the exposure group than in controls including throat pain, nasal congestion, chest pain, nausea, and headache. There was an apparent dose-response relationship between the level of automobile exhaust and the acute irritative symptoms. Compared to the office employees, the tool collectors had significant higher prevalence rates of complains for neck, shoulders, upper limbs, lower limbs, and low back. Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, and wrists were strongly associated with the traffic flow. In conclusion, toll collectors are at elevated risk of musculoskeletal disorders, including neck, shoulders, upper limbs, lower limbs, and low back, and some acute irritative symptoms, such as throat pain, nasal congestion, chest pain, nausea, and headache.