Background: The basic material of batik cloth is wax. Batik wax will produce
smokes when heated. This smoke contains a variety of pollutants, namely CO,
NO2, SO2, CO2, HC, H2S, and particles. Pollutants can cause damage in the
histologic structure of respiratory organs if inhaled by the workers. It can cause
acute and chronic pulmonary function impairment that may lead to occupational
diseases.
Objective: To determine the association between the exposure to smoke of batik
wax melting with pulmonary function of batik artisan
Methods: The study was observational analytic using cross sectional design
including 32 women, 16 batik artisans and 16 unexposed subjects served as
control in Semarang. The data were collected in the form of respondent’s
characteristic and pulmonary function that includes FVC, FEV1, and PEFR using
autospiro and peak flow meter. Statistical test by independent t test and Pearson
chi square were used to compare differences in pulmonary function and its
categories in both groups. While Spearman test was used to determine the
correlation between the duration of exposure with pulmonary function.
Results: The mean percentages of FVC, FEV1, and PEFR were lower and
impaired lung functions were higher in batik artisan than the control group, with
p = 0.016; 0.038; 0,037; p = 0.002 and RP = 9. The Spearman test showed a
significant negative correlation with moderate degree between duration of
exposure and the percentage of FEV1 (p = 0.047; r = -0.50), but not significant
for FVC (p = 0.174; r = -0.36) and PEFR (p = 0.877; r = -0.04).
Conclusion: Exposure to smoke of batik wax melting is associated with
pulmonary function of batik artisan.
Keywords: Exposure to smoke of batik wax melting, batik artisans, pulmonary
function, FVC, FEV1, PEF
