Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.9 (1), January 2011 175 www.world-food.net Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment Vol.9 (1): 175-176. 2011 WFL Publisher Science and Technology Meri-Rastilantie 3 B, FI-00980 Helsinki, Finland e-mail: info@world-food.net Evaluation of the environmental and work risk factors in building-workers Claudia Borza, Cristian Oancea, Rodica Mateescu, Germaine Balint-Savoiu *, Carmen Cristescu, Mihaiela Andoni, Georgeta-Maria Simu, Marius Butur, Cristina Dehelean and Elena Ana Pauncu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timişoara, Faculty of Pharmacy, P-ţa Eftimie Murgu – 2, 300092, Timişoara, Romania. *e-mail: savoiugema@yahoo.com, germainesavoiubalint@yahoo.com Abstract The aim of this study was to correlate the effects of environmental factors with the work risk factors on 130 building workers (based on age, sex and the professional route). The main environmental factors which were considered were noise and dusts. The effects of noise were evaluated by the interpretation of audiogram. The functional effects of dusts inhalation were performed by the spirography and in special cases by the X-ray aspect. The effects on health of the work risk factors (vibrations, nonergonomic postures) were evaluated by the analysis of the skeletal and muscular modifications. Of cases 11% presented an acuity decrease, 30% auditory tiredness, 9% an obstructive ventilometric dysfunction and 18% skeletal and muscular modifications. These pathological aspects which depend on the physical factors and on the technological process of the work can be prevented by the protective equipment and respect of medical education principles. Key words: Environmental factors, work risk factors, noise exposure, building workers, contact dermatitis, skeletal and muscular diseases, obstructive ventilometric dysfunction. Received 20 August 2010, accepted 10 January 2011. Introduction Even the occupational diseases are the consequences of a particular kind of work, they have an impact upon the whole life and are damaging domestically, privately, materially and socially. Interaction of environment and work risk factors affects the control of the technological process and we must have these factors in mind when safe working conditions are established 1 . Modern work conditions and the utilization of the results of scientific research decreased the negative factors which affected humans. The classic hazardous factors have been decreased, but in spite of this development, many determinants of accidents have remained unchanged and new problems have arisen 2 . New hazards affecting people make scientific research important to help saving human life and body. The aim of this study was to correlate the effects of environmental factors with the work risk factors on 130 building workers. Materials and Methods The study group was established based on age, sex and the professional route (work history in the building industry) (Tables 1- 3). The effects of noise were evaluated by the interpretation of audiogram. Employees should not be noise exposed in the 16 hours prior to test. The functional effects of dusts inhalation were performed by the spirography, in order to determine forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and in special cases by the X-ray aspect 3 . The effects on health of the work risk factors were evaluated by the analysis of the skeletal and muscular diseases. The main component of risk of musculoskeletal disorders is non-neutral posture of the head, trunk or limbs (deviate from the normal anatomical neutral position). Results and Discussion Of cases 11% presented an acuity decrease (with a work history more than ten years in the building industry) and 30% of cases presented auditory tiredness (with a work history of five years) (Fig. 1, Table 4). Of workers 18% presented skeletal and muscular disease (Table 5) and 9% an obstructive ventilometric dysfunction (Table 6). Of cases 12% presented contact dermatitis. The appearance of these diseases depends on psychosocial and organizational factors: individual characteristics, organization and work environment (long working hours and high overload). Determination of the hearing threshold is important to detect deterioration before the individual is aware of any deficit. The noise effect depends on the level, type and duration of exposure. Table 1. The age variation in study group. Age (years) % of subjects 25-29 17 30-39 44 40-49 29 50-59 10 Table 2. The work history (in years) of subjects in building industry. Age (years) % of subjects 5-9 23 10-19 46 20-29 31