Background

Majority of the tanneries in the Philippines is located in Meycauayan, Bulacan. This industry employs an estimated 8,000 workers and involves a series of processes utilizing various chemicals such as sulfuric and formic acids, ammonia, and chromium. The latter, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the US Toxicology Program, is recognized as a pulmonary carcinogen.

Objectives

This study aimed at determining the working environment conditions in selected leather processing industry in Meycauayan, Bulacan, seeking to identify the workers' level of exposure to ammonia, chromium, sulfuric and formic acid; to assess; and evaluate the working environment and to describe the work practice of tannery workers.

Methodology

Fifty-one (51) respondents selected from five tanneries were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. To closely approximate the concentration of chemicals to which they were exposed, personal sampling was conducted. This involved the positioning of a measuring device as close as possible to the workers' breathing zone. Aside from personal sampling, the contaminant concentration in the workroom was measured. The general ventilation of the workroom was measured to assess the thermal comfort experienced by the respondents while working.

Results

Results showed the exposure of workers to airborne concentration of chromium, formic and sulfuric acid and ammonia were within their corresponding threshold limit values. However, it was observed that tanneries have poor housekeeping practice. Storage and disposal of chemicals were not properly managed. Workers were not given appropriate protective device for their use. Unhygienic working environment is evident by the damp, pungent odor inside the workplaces.

Recommendation

The exposure assessment study employed the Working Environment Measurement (WEM) in the assessment of working conditions. To carry out the risk associated with the findings, it is recommended that further studies delve more on the health effects of the chemicals measured in this study. Future researches could provide a relation between the length of exposure of workers to the same chemicals measured in this study and their health condition. To effectively execute this, subjects must be followed up in a time frame of two to three years. This is to monitor the changing health conditions of the workers, making it possible to correlate the two variables.