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. 2025 Oct 5;3(2):e002545.
doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-002545. eCollection 2025.

Occupational hazards associated with respiratory symptoms among tannery and civil workers in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Shahriar Hossain  1 , Ryadul Alam  1 , Juned Hussain Chowdhury  1 , Md Mushfiqur Rahman Porosh  1 , Rezaul Karim Ripon  1 , Fahad Shahariar Nayon  1 , Mahmudur Rahman  1
Affiliations

Occupational hazards associated with respiratory symptoms among tannery and civil workers in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Shahriar Hossain et al. BMJ Public Health. .

Abstract

Objectives: Work-related respiratory ailments cause 10-20% of chronic respiratory diseases in hundreds of millions of people of all ages. Tanning workers endure toxic chemicals and poor air quality. Prevalence and occupational risk factors for Bangladesh's respiratory illnesses are unknown. Bangladeshi tannery and civil workers were assessed for respiratory symptoms and risk factors. The aim of this research is to find out the factors which can cause respiratory problems among tannery workers as well as demonstrate the disparities in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among tannery workers and other civil workers to address their vulnerability.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed from 23 March to April 2023. Using stratified sampling, we included 400 participants. We employed a pretested American Thoracic Society Respiratory questionnaire administered by an interviewer for this investigation. A binary logistic regression and structural modelling equation were in this study.

Result: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was 64.8% and 6.5% among non-exposed workers (p<0. 0001). Compared with civil workers, tannery workers were 13.36 times more likely to have respiratory symptoms (adjusted OR (AOR): 13.36; 95% CI (4.70 to 37.96)). Male workers (AOR: 3.06; 95% CI (1.40 to 6.69)), age over 42 years (AOR: 3.47; 95% CI (1.27 to 9.45)), no education (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI (0.77 to 5.09)), job duration more than 6-10 years (AOR: 1.82; 95% CI (0.64 to 5.20)), poor ventilation (AOR: 2.68; 95% CI (1.26 to 5.70)), chemical exposure (AOR: 1.43; 95% CI (0.70 to 2.93)) and leather dust inhalation (OR: 1.46; 95% CI (0.61 to 3.49)) were significant factors of respiratory symptoms among workers.

Conclusions: Tanners had more respiratory ailments than civil servants. Respiratory symptoms at work were linked to gender, age, education, length of employment, number of hours worked, personal protective equipment, ventilation and chemical exposure. Health and safety training and workplace ventilation aid.

Keywords: Cross-Sectional Studies; Occupational Medicine; Public Health.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms reported by tannery and civil workers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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