Cold Exposure and Health Effects Among Frozen Food Processing Workers in Eastern Thailand

摘要

Frozen food processing workers work under a cold environment which can cause several adverse healtheffects.This study explored factors affecting workers’ health in the frozen food industry in Thailand.Participants comprised 497 workers exposed to a cold working environment and 255 office workers whoserved as the controls.Data were collected by a survey on the work environment, and the interview of workers for abnormalsymptoms. The exposed group had the following characteristics: 52.7% male, overall average age of 27(SD 6.6) years old, attained elementary education (Grade 4 and Grade 6) (54.1%), married (48.9%),smokers (21.3%), alcohol consumption (31.0%), duration of work was between 1 and 5 years (65.2%),working 6 days a week (82.7%), 1e5 hours of overtime per week (33.8%), office workers (33.9%); workcategory: sizing (6.9%), peeling (28.3%) dissecting (22.2%), and in the warehouse (8.6%). The temperaturein the work environment ranged from 17.2 C to 19.2 C in most sections, 18.0 C in the warehouse, and25 C in the office areas. Warehouse workers had more abnormal symptoms than controls includingrepeated pain in the musculoskeletal system (OR 11.9; 95% CI 6.12e23.45), disturbance throughout thebody (OR 4.60; 95% CI 2.00e10.56), respiratory symptoms (OR 9.73; 95% CI 3.53e26.80), episodic fingersymptoms (OR 13.51; 95% CI 5.17e35.33).The study results suggest that workers’ health should be monitored especially with regard to back andmuscle pain, respiratory symptoms, episodic finger symptoms, and cardiovascular symptoms. Healthpromotion campaigns such as antismoking and reduction of alcohol consumption should be establishedbecause smoking and alcohol consumption are contributing factors to the pathogenesis of Raynaud’sphenomenon and peripheral vascular disorders such as hypertension and heart disease.