The correlation of exposure to iron dust with the disorders of the nose mucociliary transport time at PT. GGS Factory workers, Medan-Indonesia

Background: Iron dust is one of the many irritant substances present in the environment and acts as a pollutant in the air. Exposure to iron dust substances in the air is thought to result in disruption of nasal mucociliary transport when inhaled. PT. Gunung Gahapi Sakti Medan is one of the companies engaged in iron smelting by employing quite a lot of workers. Objective: To know the relation of exposure to iron dust to the disturbance of nasal mucociliary transport time among factory workers in PT. Gunung Gahapi Sakti. Method: The type of research conducted is an analytical study with crossectional study design. Results: Of 322 people, a total of 97 workers were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. 18-28 years of age have more nasal mucociliary transport time ≤ 17 minutes, while employees aged 29‑39 years and 40-50 years have a nasal mucociliary transport time 25 minutes. Women have a nasal mucociliary transport time ≤ 17 minutes, while male employees have mucociliary transport time of the nose 17 minutes. The duration of 1-10 years has a mucociliary transport time of the nose ≤ 17 minutes, whereas those who have worked 11-20 years l have time Nasal mucociliary transport 17 minutes. Workers on close exposure have a mucociliary transport time 17 min, while exposure has a mucociliary transport time ≤ 17 min Conclusions: The nasal mucociliary transport time of employees is prolonged or decelerated with increasing age and duration, and the mucociliary transport time of the nose in male employees is longer than in women. The workplace (location of exposure) also significantly affects the mucociliary transport of the nose.