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ABSTRACT
The study was designed to determine the effects of the use of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) on furniture craftsmen in Katsina, Katsina state. It is aimed at finding out the level of awareness of furniture craftsmen on the dangers posed by using MDF and the safe practices to be employed in preventing its effects. The targeted participants for the study were 40 participants consisting of 10 Environmental Health workers and 30 furniture craftsmen who were randomly selected using stratified sampling within the Katsina metropolis. Structured questionnaires containing 31 items were used for the study. Mean, Standard Deviation and t-test were used to analyse the data collected for the study. The null hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings among others revealed that the furniture craftsmen are aware that allergic rhinitis, chronic Bronchitis, skin irritation and itching, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, nasal and Sinus cancer due to prolonged exposure and even impairment of lung function can be caused by Formaldehyde and dust emission as a result of using Medium Density Fibreboard processing for furniture making. It was discovered that the effects can be reduced if the furniture craftsmen can adhere strictly to the safe practices in their activities with Medium Density Fibreboard. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Environmental Health workers in the Health Departments of all the local governments in the state should make sure that all furniture factories in operation adhere strictly to the safe practices outlined for woodworking.
Keywords: Medium Density Fibreboard, Awareness, Formaldehyde, Dust.
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