Effects of Benzene Exposure on Respiratory Symptoms to Workers in the Informal Footwear Industry.

Background: Benzene is a volatile organic solvent. Benzene has been designated as a carcinogen in humans or a cause of cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The entry of organic solvent vapors into the body can cause various main reactions in the respiratory tract. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between benzene exposure intake and respiratory symptoms. Displace to method, here in abstract. Method: This type of research used cross-sectional design and risk assessment approach. It is conducted in four footwear workshops in Bogor, West Java, during September 2017. This study involved 96 footwear workers. Results: The most symptoms experienced were cough 50% they were quickly tired or tightness during activity 39.6%, sore throat 33.3%, runny nose 31.3%, issued phlegm or reak 18.8%, shortness of breath 14.6%, snorting nouse 6.3%. The result of the risk assessment was 11.5% of workers had real time noncancer risk as well as 21.9% of workers who had cancer risk. Conclusion: There was no correlation between non-carcinogen intakes, carcinogen intakes and respiratory symptoms (p value> 0.05). The findings suggest vigilance against the risk of continuous benzene exposure because it can trigger symptoms of carcinogens or non carcinogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]