Browsing by Author "Bwala, John Mark"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Assessment of common ambient air pollutants and respiratory health problems among road construction workers in Imo State, Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2025) Bwala, John Mark
    Road construction workers are exposed to air pollutants which can cause respiratory health problems. The general objective of this study is to assess the respiratory health problems among road construction workers in Imo state, Nigeria. This research was a cross sectional study of Road construction workers in Imo state, Nigeria. The multistage sampling technique was used to select 353 subjects from the 3 senatorial zones of Imo State. At the construction sites, gas meters were used to measure gas levels at strategic points. The blood pressure, pulse rate and forced vital capacity readings of the subjects were taken by well-qualified health personnel. The mean CO, SO2 and SPM levels at Imo West was 182.40±6.41ppm, 516.24±55.03μg/m3 and 1956.22±30.75μg/m3 respectively. The mean CO, SO2 and SPM levels at Imo East was 185.34±6.46ppm, 518.26±55.12μg/m3 and 1960.17±30.79μg/m3 respectively. The mean CO, SO2 and SPM levels at Imo North was 187.51±6.49ppm, 520.14±55.34μg/m3 and 1956.68±30.25μg/m3 respectively. In all the senatorial zones, SPSS data analysis using the oneway ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance showed that the levels of CO, SO2 and SPM was significantly higher (P<0.05) than safe levels. The mean Forced Vital Capacity among all the workers in Imo West, Imo East and Imo North was 2263.34±482.33, 2578.80±751.80, and 2382.78±610.42 respectively. The major respiratory health problems among the road construction workers in Imo state include coughing 211 (59.77%); sneezing, 290(82.15%); catarrh, 79(22.38%); sore throat, 72(20.39%); asthma, 29(8.22%); short breadth, 121(34.28%); pneumonia, 66(18.70%); headache, 133(37.68%); and wheezing, 170(48.16%). Road construction workers were advised to always wear their personal protective equipment, especially the nose mask during construction work to prevent respiratory health problems.