Exposure of workers with inhalable particles in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province

Mohammadyan, Mahmoud; Pouransari, Milad; Mohammadpour Tahmtan, Reza Ali; Razavi, Seyyed Mehdi; Ahmadi Asoor, Akbar

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Health science research center- faculty of health- mazandaran university of medical sciences- sari- iran

² Department of Occupational Health-faculty of Health-Mazandaran University of Medical Science- sari-iran

³ Student Research Committee- faculty of health- mazandaran university of medical sciences- sari- iran

⁴ Department of Occupational Health-faculty of health-sabzevar University of Medical Science- sabzevar-iran

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the great importance of the workforce’s wellbeing as well as the employment of a large number of workers in the in the cement industries in Iran, the current study was carried out in the aim of evaluation of the respirable dust concentrations in the workers breathing zone in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province.
Materials and Methods: In this study, respirable particle concentration was evaluated in the breathing zone of 70 workers in a cement factory who were working at different work sites in the cement factory processes. The standard methodology of 0600 recommended by the US NIOSH was followed to determine respirable dust concentration using a personal sampling pump, aluminum cyclone and pvc filter.
Results: The average respirable dust concentration was 3.9 mg/m3 for all workers that means 77% of workers were exposed to respirable cement particles higher than. The maximum mean concentration of respirable particles in the workers breathing zone was found in the cement grinding site 9.3 mg/m3 and the minimum one was measured in the stone crushing and mining site 1.8 mg/m3.
Conclusion: The average concentration of respirable dust concentration in the workers’ breathing zone was higher than OEL in both warm and cold climates. The warm weather and the wind comes from the desert and dry areas contribute to the increase of the concentration of respirable particles in the breathing zone of the workers in various parts of the plant who are exposed to the naturally ventilated air.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences

Exposure of workers with inhalable particles in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province

References

References

Volume 25, Issue 3
July and August 2018
Pages 379-387

Exposure of workers with inhalable particles in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province

References

References

Volume 25, Issue 3July and August 2018Pages 379-387

Volume 25, Issue 3
July and August 2018
Pages 379-387