Determination of ammonia gas safe concentration in chicken farm workers in Lembak Village, South Sumatra Indonesia

Ammonia is an alkaline gas with colorless and a strong odor characteristics. It can be formed naturally in the air, soil and water. Ammonia is also produced by humans and animals as part of normal biological processes. This study aims to determine the safe (C safe) concentration of ammonia gas in Chicken Farms in Lembak Village, South Sumatra Indonesia. This study was an observational with a sample of 14 chicken farm workers taken by purposive sampling. This study was analyzed based on primary and secondary data and processed through safe C calculations by determining the weight of experimental animals (W animals), body surface area of the experimental animal (BSA of experimental animals), workers’ body weight (W), workers’ body surface area (BSA), workers’ breathing rate (BR), benzene concentration in the workplace (C), factor Km in animals (Animal Km), factor Km in humans (Human Km), highest dose of toxin without effect (NOAEL), and reference concentration of ammonia gas on workers (RfC). The measurement results of the highest concentration of ammonia gas in the chicken farm around Lembak Selatan village, Sumatra was 0.006 mg/m3 (0.0086) ppm and the average concentration of ammonia gas from 14 measurement points on the farm was 0.003214 mg/m3 (0.0046 ppm). The concentration level is below the threshold value set by PERMENAKER No. 5 of 2018, OSHA, NIOSH and ACGIH of 25 ppm. In contrast to these results, the manual calculation of safe (C safe) concentration of ammonia gas was 0.022 mg/m3 (0.031 ppm). With these results, the concentration of ammonia gas in the chicken farms of Desa Lembak Sumatera Selatan Indonesia is in the safe category. Nevertheless, prevention measures are needed to prevent the increase level of the gas.