DOI : https://doi.org/10.56338/jphp.v6i3.11536

Respiratory Symptom Composite, Individual Characteristics, and Area PM10 Measurements among Makassar Flour Mill Workers

Tiara Rahmadhani (1), Atjo Wahyu (2), Yahya Thamrin (3), Masyita Muis (4), Andi Arsunan (5)
(1) Department of Occupational safety and health, Faculty of public health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
(2) Department of Occupational safety and health, Faculty of public health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
(3) Department of Occupational safety and health, Faculty of public health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
(4) Department of Occupational safety and health, Faculty of public health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
(5) Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of public health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
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Rahmadhani, T., Wahyu, A., Thamrin, Y., Muis, M., & Arsunan, A. (2026). Respiratory Symptom Composite, Individual Characteristics, and Area PM10 Measurements among Makassar Flour Mill Workers. Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy, 6(3), 490–498. https://doi.org/10.56338/jphp.v6i3.11536
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Introduction: This study described an unvalidated respiratory symptom composite, individual characteristics, and concurrent spirometric screening among flour mill workers in Makassar, with short-duration area PM10 measurements providing descriptive workplace context.


Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2025. Archived aggregate tables included data for 87 workers; complete participation and source-data completeness could not be verified. The primary outcome was a study-specific, unvalidated 12-item composite using a ≥50% affirmative-response threshold. Crude prevalence ratios (PRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with nominal 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reconstructed from categorical counts. Ten 10-minute area PM10 measurements were summarized separately. The unverifiable adjusted model was removed.


Results: The composite threshold was met by 49/87 workers (56.3%). Crude PRs were 1.61 (95% CI 1.08–2.40) for the respiratory history composite, 2.44 (1.65–3.62) for service >5 years, and 2.62 (1.60–4.31) for former or current smoking versus never smoking. PPE use had a PR of 1.47 (0.996–2.180), and the exercise composite had a PR of 1.04 (0.72–1.52). Abnormal spirometric screening co-occurred with a higher composite-positive proportion (PR 2.56; 1.39–4.73), without implying a predictive relationship. PM10 ranged from 5 to 902 µg/m³. Estimates were unadjusted and CIs did not account for possible work-area clustering.


Conclusion: Recorded individual characteristics differed in their crude association with the unvalidated symptom composite. These findings do not establish respiratory disease prevalence, independent determinants, or causation. Area measurements cannot establish individual PM10–symptom associations or regulatory compliance. The findings identify priorities for better-documented exposure assessment and respiratory surveillance.


 

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