Effect of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter on Blood Pressure of Sand Stone Mine Workers: A case study

Abstract

The workers were selected for the study from various stone quarries around Jodhpur city of Rajasthan state in India. The selection of workers was based upon the exposure duration, type of work, socioeconomic factor, and previous diseases. The workers having hereditary respiratory & cardiovascular problems were not taken for study. Only male workers have been considered in this study .The workers were divided in three categories depending upon the type of their work and exposure to particulate concentration. These categories are: Labour (particulate concentration category-1), Dresser (particulate concentration category-2), and Driller (particulate concentration category-3). Similarly the exposure duration is divided in four categories: category -1 (exposure duration 0-5 years), category -2 (exposure duration 5-10 years), category -3 (exposure duration 10-15 years), category -4 (exposure duration >15 years). of particulate matter for different activities ( drilling, dressing, general quarry environment) were measured with the help Respirable High volume sampler. The blood pressure of the workers were measured with the help of Multi-Parameter Monitor. It is clear from the observation & analysis that increase in exposure duration and RSPM concentration is responsible for increase in SBP/ DBP. It is clear from the statistical analysis that two independent variables Exposure Duration and Particulate Concentration jointly account for the variation in ISBP upto 80.5% and remaining 19.5 % variation is due to other reasons. It also indicates that these two independent variables jointly account for the variation in IDBP upto 95.9 % and remaining rest 4.1 % variation is due to other reasons. study indicates that increase in DBP is closely associated with the exposure duration and exposure concentration.