Investigation of Determinant Factors for Oxidative Stress Prevention in Leather-shoe Workers Exposed to Benzene

¹ Occupational Safety and Health Dept, Faculty of Public Health, Diponegoro Univ, Indonesia
² Occupational Health and Safety Dept, Public Health Faculty, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: joeliani_kesja_undip@yahoo.com

Abstract

This investigation aimed to determine the importance of benzene and phenol exposure in the urine, routine blood profiles, and worker oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde levels in the blood and workers’ blood are routinely measured to determine the level of oxidative stress. This cross-sectional survey only included leather shoemakers in Semarang. The research included 42 active and productive shoemakers as the study’s participants. The dependent variables in this study were age, work period, nutritional status (BMI), urinary phenolic levels, and blood profile. The variable tied to this study was the level of oxidative stress (MDA). The sample is taken immediately after the employee’s work shift is finished. The normal average level for MDA is 2.61 µmol/L. Questionnaires were utilized to determine the respondent’s characteristics and urinary phenolic levels. MDA was used to test lipid peroxidation using spectrophotometry method of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test. Venous blood samples were taken from the tip of middle finger. Workers are measured in height by microtoice while weight is measured by digital body scales. BMI were categorized as follows: BMI (kg/m 2) < 18.5, 18.5–24.9 and ≥25. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 25.0. The analysis of bivariate data used the Kruskal–Wallis test (α=0.05). There were no significant all-off variables and Malondialdehyde levels in workers in the leather-shoe sector. For future research, the management of leather-shoe production should make a simple vent (exhaust fan) at the gluing site so that workers were not exposed to benzene.