RISK ANALYSIS OF AMMONIA EXPOSURE AT CHICKEN FARM WORKERS IN LEMBAK, SOUTH SUMATERA

Abstract

Background: Livestock is a leading sector in fulfill human needs for food. One of chemical factors in chicken farms is ammonia as a component that can damage workers health. The main content of ammonia in poultry is generally derived from the residue of digestion or feces mixed with urine that pollute the air for causing odor and harmful to the health of animal and human. This study aims to analyze health risk of ammonia exposure in chicken farm workers at Lembak Village.

Methods: This was a study that predicted the estimated risk due to exposure to the ammonia of the chicken farms. Population was farms in Lembak, subject sample was chicken farm worker and object sample was ammonia level in farms. Data was collected by questionnaire, scales and dust concentration measurement directly. Risk estimation was calculated by the method of Environmental Health Risk Analysis with intake calculation and the risk of non-carcinogenic calculation.

Results: The concentration of ammonia was under the threshold value as 0.0032 mg/m3. Calculation of the ammonia intake in real time of 0.0020 and life time 0.7671. The highest value of ammonia RQ realtime was 3.0066 and the lowest value was 0.3006. From these results known that ammonia exposure poses no health risks of exposure (RQ <1) at this time.

Conclusions: The health risks analysis to ammonia exposure indicates that it is still within safe limits. Risk management should be done by health department to anticipate the higher concentration of ammonia and conduct periodic counseling and supervision.

Keywords: Health Risk Analysis, Ammonia Exposure, Chicken Farms

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26553/jikm.2017.8.2.74-82