Assessment of respiratory health profile in cooks of roadside Dhaba’s (diner) around the national highway of Nashik district

Abstract

Introduction: The health hazards in the unorganized sector, especially in Dhaba’s kitchen workers, could be more attributing to both indoor pollution like fuel, methods of cooking with improper ventilation. Outdoor air pollution due to the highway also makes the working condition even more difficult for these workers. So present study was planned to assess the respiratory health profile of Dhaba’s cooks & other workers. Aim: To assess respiratory function in the cooks & non cooks workers of the Dhaba’s and comparing their lung function test. Materials and Methods: the present cross-sectional study included 105 Dhaba workers from 18 Dhabas on national highway 3 with 38 being kitchen workers & 67 being a non-kitchen worker. Interview technique for respiratory health profile questionnaire followed by pulmonary function test by spirometry was used for data collection. Results: Difference in pulmonary function test was found statistically insignificant in both the groups. Stratified analysis in smokers & non-smokers groups, it was statistically higher in smoker control group compared to smoker study group (p Conclusion: None of the parameters from pulmonary function test came significant which could be due to the duration of the exposure that would be not significant to pose any health problems. But it will not rule out the fact that the indoor air pollution irrespective of tandoor cooking or normal gas/stove cooking, all have ascertain inclination for causing respiratory alteration. Keywords: Dhaba’s, cooks, Kitchen, Air pollution, Occupational health.