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Characterization, occupational exposure, and respiratory symptoms of airborne microplastics among manufacturing workers / Dhia Batrisyia Binti Ahmad Fuad

By:

Dhia Batrisyia Binti Ahmad Fuad, , [author.]

Material type: Text

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

THE0010970 (Local)

Subject(s):

Online resources:

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Dissertation note: Final Year Report (Bachelor Degree Of Occupational Safety And Health) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2025 Abstract: Plastic manufacturing workers are continuously exposed to airborne microplastics (AMPs), which may contribute to respiratory health issues due to long term microplastics inhalation. This study aimed to investigate the concentration and characteristics of AMPs and their association with respiratory symptoms among exposed and control groups of workers in a plastic manufacturing facility. Air sampling was conducted using single-stage impactors over three days at three workplace locations, Machine 13 & 14 (Point A), Machine 7 & 8 (Point B), and the Office (Point C) resulting in 27 samples, while respiratory data were collected from 50 participants (34 exposed, 16 control) using the validated American Thoracic Society ATS-DLD-78A questionnaire. Results showed the highest AMP concentration at Point A with (2706.7±668.4 particles/m³), followed by the Office (2295.6±336.7 particles/m³) and Point B (1593.3±626.3 particles/m³). Microplastics were predominantly black (up to 75.91%) and fragmented (over 92%), with mostly sized between 10–100 μm. Binary logistic regression showed no significant association between AMP concentration and symptoms such as cough or phlegm (p > 0.3), but breathlessness was significantly more prevalent in the control group (31.3%) compared to the exposed group (2.9%) (p=0.010). In conclusion, although most respiratory symptoms did not show a significant link to AMP exposure, the detection of AMPs in low-exposure areas and the increase breathlessness in control workers suggest that multifaced indoor air factors may influence respiratory health. This study recommends the implementation of proactive monitoring and improved air control measures to support Malaysia’s OSH MP 2021–2025 and SDG 3.

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Final Year Report	UMPLIB GAMBANG	FSTI .D45 2025 r Bc. (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Not for loan		T000003805

Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology

Final Year Report (Bachelor Degree Of Occupational Safety And Health) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2025

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Plastic manufacturing workers are continuously exposed to airborne microplastics (AMPs), which may contribute to respiratory health issues due to long term microplastics inhalation. This study aimed to investigate the concentration and characteristics of AMPs and their association with respiratory symptoms among exposed and control groups of workers in a plastic manufacturing facility. Air sampling was conducted using single-stage impactors over three days at three workplace locations, Machine 13 & 14 (Point A), Machine 7 & 8 (Point B), and the Office (Point C) resulting in 27 samples, while respiratory data were collected from 50 participants (34 exposed, 16 control) using the validated American Thoracic Society ATS-DLD-78A questionnaire. Results showed the highest AMP concentration at Point A with (2706.7±668.4 particles/m³), followed by the Office (2295.6±336.7 particles/m³) and Point B (1593.3±626.3 particles/m³). Microplastics were predominantly black (up to 75.91%) and fragmented (over 92%), with mostly sized between 10–100 μm. Binary logistic regression showed no significant association between AMP concentration and symptoms such as cough or phlegm (p > 0.3), but breathlessness was significantly more prevalent in the control group (31.3%) compared to the exposed group (2.9%) (p=0.010). In conclusion, although most respiratory symptoms did not show a significant link to AMP exposure, the detection of AMPs in low-exposure areas and the increase breathlessness in control workers suggest that multifaced indoor air factors may influence respiratory health. This study recommends the implementation of proactive monitoring and improved air control measures to support Malaysia’s OSH MP 2021–2025 and SDG 3.