Estimation of disease burden and multi-dimensional risk factors of chronic respiratory diseases among the residents near sandstone quarries in Jodhpur.

BACKGROUND

Air pollution at mining sites is a global phenomenon; residents living around the sandstone quarries are at risk of CRDs. This is an initial research study to analyze the prevalence of CRDs, and the association of household environmental exposures, individual behaviors, socioeconomic status, and air pollution emissions from opencast sandstone quarry within 500 meters of the Soor Sagar region in Rajasthan, related to CRDs.

METHODS

This study represents data collected from the Soor Sagar Jodhpur area as part of a multicentric cross-sectional observational study across nine sites in India. Mapping was done using ArcGIS Pro 2.9, and participants were selected using a grid-based method. The sandstone quarry area location was mainly considered for Rajasthan, with a target of 1,000 study participant. Data were collected from pre-tested, structured questionnaire through the Kobo Toolbox and analyzed using IBM SPSS v28.0. Multivariate logistic regression and chi-square tests were applied to determine the crude and odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS

Out of 894 participants, CRDs prevalence was 12.5% (n = 112; occupational lung disease 8.7%, asthma 1.8%, COPD 0.6%, and tuberculosis 5.1%). NCD 6.4% (n = 57), (HTN & DM were prevalent). Sandstone Mine workers (OR 6.65, 95% CI: 3.06-14.45, p < 0.001), unemployed/former miners (OR 5.59, 95% CI: 2.32-13.47, p < 0.001) had increased CRDs risks. The odds of CRDs were lower for those aged 18-36 yrs. (OR 0.18, 95% CI: 0.11-0.32, p < 0.001), and higher for men aged 37-54 yrs. (OR 3.10, 95% CI: 2.00-4.79, p < 0.001). The risk of CRDs increased with illiteracy. (OR 7.41, 95% CI: 1.78-30.92, p = 0.006). Dust exposure was linked to an increased risk of CRDs (OR 9.00, 95% CI: 1.07-76.02, p = 0.044) and improper method of waste disposal (OR 4.55, 95% CI: 1.39-14.86, p = 0.012). The protective factor was LPG use (OR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15-1.58, p < 0.01) for daily cooking (OR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.28-0.72, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study highlight the prevalence of (CRDs) in this unstudied demographic of the Soor Sagar sandstone quarry area of Jodhpur. This elevated risk is strongly linked to air pollution emissions from sandstone quarries, particularly affecting mine workers and those living within 500 meters of the quarry. Air pollution from mining, combined with socioeconomic factors, personal habits, and household exposures, might increase the population's risk of developing CRDs.