Consequences of Thermal Induced Radiation from Ovens on the Physiology of Bakery Workers in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Consequences of thermal induced radiation from ovens on the physiology of Bakery workers in Calabar, was investigated. An in-situ measurement approach to estimate the impact of thermal radiation on human physiological changes. The relationships between the measured temperature parameters were correlated with a questionnaire inventory. Statistical analysis of the questionnaires based on the relevant hypotheses was carried out. The results show that, the P-values of 0.005; 0.001; 0.006; 0.001 and 0.001 less than 0.05 in all cases and was prevalent. The statistical result implies that there is a significant effect of thermal radiation emanating from bakery ovens on the physiology of workers as this was used to establish the wellbeing of workers in the perceived heat stressed environment. It also was found out that the exposure of workers to thermal radiation in all the bakeries under study exceeded the WHO (20oC- 29oC) exposure limit for comfort. All the bakeries visited during this study used firewood industrial oven.