The prevalence of occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in iron and steel industries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The iron and steel industries are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world compared to other manufacturing industries. Workers are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, which predispose them to high risks of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Currently, the data on the global prevalence and associated risk factors for occupational injuries in the iron and steel industries is fragmented and incomplete.

Prevalence and determinants of evidence of silicosis and impaired lung function among small scale tanzanite miners and the peri-mining community in northern Tanzania.

Limited data among miners in Tanzania suggests prevalence of silicosis, obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease to be around 1.6%, 1.9% and 8.

Concentrations of respirable crystalline silica and radon among tanzanite mining communities in Mererani, Tanzania.

Background: Globally, the number of small-scale miners (SSM) is estimated to be more than 25 million, but it supports the livelihoods of around 100 million individuals. In Tanzania, the number of SSM has increased from an estimated 150,000 in 1987 to ~1.5 million in 2017.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and associated factors among small-holder fish vendors along coastal areas in Tanzania.

Background: In Tanzania little is known about how the respiratory system of small-holder fish vendors is affected by occupational exposure to biomass smoke and other associated factors. This study assessed the prevalence of lung obstruction and associated factors among small-holder fish vendors along coastal areas in Tanzania.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Bagamoyo and Kunduchi fish markets along coastal areas of Tanzania.

Prevalence and factors associated with tuberculosis among the mining communities in Mererani, Tanzania.

Tuberculosis (TB) is among diseases of global health importance with Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) accounting for 25% of the global TB burden. TB prevalence among miners in SSA is estimated at 3,000-7,000/100,000, which is about 3 to 10-times higher than in the general population. The study's objective was to determine the prevalence of TB and associated risk factors among mining communities in Mererani, northern Tanzania.

Work-Related Injuries Reported toWorkers Compensation Fund in Tanzania from 2016 to 2019.

Quality data on the magnitude and determinants of work-related injuries is an important element in the development of appropriate preventative strategies. However, there have been many challenges in obtaining quality information on work-related injuries in the developing countries. This archival study based on the data from workers' compensation registry from the year 2016 to 2019 aimed at determining trends and factors associated with work-related injuries (WRI).

Temporary Threshold Shifts among Iron and Steel Factory Workers in Tanzania: A Pre-Interventional Study.

Background: Workers in iron and steel factories in Tanzania are exposed to noise levels above recommended limit values, without using hearing protection devices. Exposure to noise levels above 85 dB(A) is associated with temporary threshold shifts (TTS) of human hearing. Nevertheless, there are few studies of noise and hearing from African countries.

In-car particulate matter exposure across ten global cities.

Cars are a commuting lifeline worldwide, despite contributing significantly to air pollution. This is the first global assessment on air pollution exposure in cars across ten cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh); Chennai (India); Guangzhou (China); Medellín (Colombia); São Paulo (Brazil); Cairo (Egypt); Sulaymaniyah (Iraq); Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); Blantyre (Malawi); and Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania). Portable laser particle counters were used to develop a proxy of car-user exposure profiles and analyse the factors affecting particulate matter ≤2.

Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania.

Background: Gas-fired electric plants are equipped with heavy machines, which produce hazards including noise pollution. Exposure to high level of noise of above 85dB(A) is known to bring about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This study aimed to assess noise exposure level and reported prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in gas-fired electric plants.

Pesticide Exposure and Health Problems Among Female Horticulture Workers in Tanzania.

Commercialization of horticulture farming, expansion of farms, and the practice of monoculture favor the proliferation of pests, which in turn increases the need for pesticides. Increased exposure to pesticides is associated with inadequate knowledge on the hazardous nature of pesticides, poor hygiene practices, lack of availability of washing facilities, and insufficient adherence to precautionary instructions on pesticide labels. Mitigating the risks posed by pesticides is considered a less compelling interest than alleviating poverty.

Endotoxin, dust and exhaled nitrogen oxide among hand pickers of coffee; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Primary coffee processing takes place in countries where coffee is grown, and may include hand picking of coffee to remove low quality beans. Hand picking is mostly performed by women. No previous studies on dust and respiratory health have been performed in this occupational group, although studies indicate respiratory problems among other coffee production workers.

Status of Occupational Health and Safety and Related Challenges in Expanding Economy of Tanzania.

Introduction: Occupational health and safety is related with economic activities undertaken in the country. As the economic activities grow and expand, occupational injuries and diseases are more likely to increase among workers in different sectors of economy such as agriculture, mining, transport, and manufacture. This may result in high occupational health and safety services demand, which might be difficult to meet by developing countries that are prioritizing economic expansion without regard to their impact on occupational health and safety.

The impact of reduced dust exposure on respiratory health among cement workers: an ecological study.

Objectives: To compare total dust exposure, prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms, lung function, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Tanzanian cement workers before (2002) and after (2010-2011) establishment of dust-control measures.

Methods: Personal total dust-exposure measurements, questionnaire assessment for chronic respiratory symptoms, and spirometry were conducted in both examination periods.

Results: Total dust exposure was lower in 2010-2011 than in 2002.

Respiratory symptoms, exhaled nitric oxide, and lung function among workers in Tanzanian coffee factories.

Objective: To compare chronic respiratory symptoms, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), and lung function between Robusta and Arabica coffee workers and a control group.

Methods: Chronic respiratory symptoms were assessed by a questionnaire (n = 138 coffee workers and n = 120 controls). The FENO was measured by NIOX MINO device (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden).

Personal exposure to dust and endotoxin in Robusta and Arabica coffee processing factories in Tanzania.

Introduction: Endotoxin exposure associated with organic dust exposure has been studied in several industries. Coffee cherries that are dried directly after harvest may differ in dust and endotoxin emissions to those that are peeled and washed before drying. The aim of this study was to measure personal total dust and endotoxin levels and to evaluate their determinants of exposure in coffee processing factories.

Respiratory inflammation among workers exposed to airborne dust with endotoxins in a coffee curing factory.

Objective: To study dust exposure and inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract among coffee curing workers in Tanzania.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tanzanian coffee curing factory. Coffee workers (n = 15) were compared with unexposed controls (n = 18); all workers were nonsmokers.

Dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among coffee curing workers in Kilimanjaro: a cross sectional study.

Background: Coffee processing causes organic dust exposure which may lead to development of respiratory symptoms. Previous studies have mainly focused on workers involved in roasting coffee in importing countries. This study was carried out to determine total dust exposure and respiratory health of workers in Tanzanian primary coffee-processing factories.

Quartz exposure and increased respiratory symptoms among coal mine workers in Tanzania.

Unlabelled: Quartz has been an inevitable composition of different type of coal mined. The quartz exposures among coalmine workers has been attributed to activities such as cutting the adjacent rock, the roof, the floor and the intrusions.

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the associations between quartz exposures and respiratory health in a labour intensive coal mine.

High prevalence of respiratory symptoms among workers in the development section of a manually operated coal mine in a developing country: a cross sectional study.

Background: Few studies of miners have been carried out in African countries; most are from South Africa, where the working conditions are assumed to be better than in the rest of Africa. Several studies have focused on respiratory disorders among miners, but development workers responsible for creating underground road ways have not been studied explicitly. This is the first study assessing the associations between exposure to dust and quartz and respiratory symptoms among coal mine workers in a manually operated coal mine in Tanzania, focusing on development workers, as they have the highest exposure to coal dust.

Airflow limitation among workers in a labour-intensive coal mine in Tanzania.

Objectives: To describe the relationship between cumulative respirable dust and quartz exposure and lung functioning among workers in a labour-intensive coal mine.

Methods: The study population comprised 299 men working at a coal mine in Tanzania. Lung function was assessed using a Vitalograph alpha III spirometer in accordance with American Thoracic Society recommendations.

Variability of exposure and estimation of cumulative exposure in a manually operated coal mine.

This study aims at estimating variability in exposure to respirable dust and assessing whether the a priori grouping by job team is appropriate for an exposure-response study on respiratory effects among workers in a manually operated coal mine in Tanzania. Furthermore, estimated exposure levels were used to calculate cumulative exposure. Full-shift personal respirable dust samples (n = 204) were collected from 141 randomly chosen workers at underground and surface work sites.

High exposure to respirable dust and quartz in a labour-intensive coal mine in Tanzania.

Labour-intensive mines are numerous in several developing countries, but dust exposure in such mines has not been adequately characterized. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the determinants of respirable dust and quartz exposure among underground coal mine workers in Tanzania. Personal respirable dust samples (n = 134) were collected from 90 underground workers in June-August 2003 and July-August 2004.