Health and environmental impacts of air pollution caused by cement factory dust among workers and residents: A cross-sectional study of the Arab Cement Factory in Zliten, Libya

Abstract

Background: Air pollution caused by particulate matter from the cement industry is one of the most significant environmental and health challenges of the 21st century, as these emissions cause a high burden of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. The study aimed to determine the health and environmental impacts of air pollution caused by factory dust.

Methodology: The study used the descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional approach, and was applied to a sample of 100 participants (50 factory workers and 50 from the surrounding population). Data were collected using a purpose-designed questionnaire, and the results were subjected to statistical analysis using descriptive and inferential methods (arithmetic means, relative weights, P-value tests).

Results: The results revealed a very high perception of the level of contamination (arithmetic mean 3.44, relative weight 1.40). It showed a statistically significant direct correlation (r=0.518, P=0.000) between dust exposure and respiratory symptoms, with 22% of the sample experiencing a persistent cough (P=0.041), 20% experiencing shortness of breath, and bronchitis recording a prevalence of 19%. Sample members also showed a "very high" level of awareness of health risks (average 2.71, relative weight 0.90). Wearing a mask topped the list of preventive behaviors (32%), while a clear gap emerged in that 19% of the sample did not take any preventive measures, with a sharp decline in the use of home air purifiers (1%). The results did not show statistically significant differences between workers and the population in problem perception or patterns of preventive behavior.

Conclusion: The research confirms a close association between exposure to cement dust and higher rates of respiratory disease, with consensus in risk perception among workers and the population. The community suffers from deficiencies in individual preventive measures and weak environmental responsibility of the plant, which turns pollution into a real threat to public health.

Recommendations: Updating the plant's filtration systems and environmental technology to reduce emissions at the source, activating periodic environmental monitoring to ensure compliance with standards, and launching expanded awareness programs for residents and workers about dust hazards and prevention methods.