The Impact of Dust from Fabric Loop Production on the People in Ploomjainives Community

Abstract

This research aimed to study the impact of the dust from fabric loop production on respiration, skin, eyesight, muscles, and stress. The data were collected from a questionnaire and deep interviewing. Villagers at the Ploomjainives community. The subjects were 317 villagers who produced fabric ioops for a living and those who were not fabric loop makers. Both groups lived in Ploomjainives community Phase 6, on the left and right sides of Moo 4,Nai Klong Bangplagot subdistrict , Prasamutjedi district, Samuthprakarn province. Data were analyzed by using frequency and percentage statistics. For qualitative analysis main data source came from the village of Naiklongbangplagot subdistrict. It was found that in the period of 1-2 years fabric loop makers had muscle pain at 61.7 %, fatigue at 40% ,cough at 23.3%, headache at 13.3%, phlegm at 5%, chest pain, breathing. Difficulties symptom of cold at 5%, low fever in some period at 3.3% and no appetite of 3.3%. Total health impact was at 63.3%. On the other hand, those who were not fabric loop makers had muscle pain at 49.0 %, fatigue at 29.1%, headache at 8.6%, cough at 6.6%, loss of appetite and chest pain, breathing, difficulties symptoms of cold at 1.5 % and low fever at 1.2%. Stress was at normal level or had no stress 78.3%. Workers had stress at moderate level 1.6%. People who did not produce fabric loop had normal stress levels at 90.7%

From in depth interviews it was found that the subjects wanted to receive information about illnesses from working with fabric loop and there prevention. Villagers needed local authorities to take responsibility of cleaning and tidying their area, to organize and tidy up big piles of remnants which were laid out on the street, and blocked the traffic. Furthermore, they required fire equipment to be installed. Dust from the remnants of working with fabric loops poses a risk to the families of the workers. Conflict might happen due to spreading dust of the remnants which annoys neighbors.