Assessment Of Urine Fluoride Concentration Among Potroom Workers Of Volta Aluminium Company (Valco), Tema

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Due to rapid industrialization, health problems among industrial workers due to fluoride poisoning are on the rise. Emissions of fluoride dust and fumes from the smelters of primary aluminium producing industries are dissipated in the work environment and poses occupational health hazard. The Use of cryolite (tri-sodium hexafluoroaluminate, Na3AlF6) as a flux in the conversion of alumina to aluminium is the major source for fluoride emission responsible for the spread of industrial fluorosis among smelter workers.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the urine fluoride concentrations among potroom workers of VALCO and to determine if there was a significant difference between the pre and post shift urine concentrations.

Methods: An industrial based cross-sectional retrospective study design and quantitative research approach was carried out using extracted data on all employees working in the potroom from the human resource department’s database. Pre and post shift urine were sampled from eighty two (82) potroom workers selected conveniently after obtaining their consent to participate in the study. The samples were analyzed using the ion selective electrode (Model: Mettler 4, USA INC). A non-participant observation was conducted in the potroom to observe availability and adherence to the use of personal protective equipment (PPEs). Stata software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected. Bivariate analysis using Chi square test of independence was performed to test the associations between dependent and independent variables. Multiple logistic regression was carried out on the factors that were significant at the bivariate level, crude and adjusted odds ratio were computed and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The results showed that the overall estimated proportion of potroom workers with high levels of fluoride in preshift urine was 9.8% [0.98± 0.32 (95% CI = 0.03 0.16)]. All 82 participants however had their post shift urine fluorides within recommended limit of 7ppm [1.48±0.17 (95% CI =1.15-1.837) ]. There was a statistically significant difference in preshift and post shift urine fluorides among the potroom workers (p