Workers occupational exposure to Free Crystal Silica of respirable particles in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province

Mohammadyan, Mahmoud; Ahmadi Asour, Akbar; Pouransari, Milad; Akrami, Rahim; Soroosh, Davood; Razavi, Seyyed Mehdi

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

² School of Health Sabzevar University of Medical Science Sabzevar، Iran Deoartment of occupational health engineering school of health Tehran university of medical science, Tehran, iran

³ Department of occupational health engineering,school of public health, gonabad university of medical sciences, gonabad, iran

⁴ Phd student in epidemiology department of epidemiology&biostatistice, school of public health , Tehran university of medical sciences, Tehran, iran

⁵ Department of forensic medicine, sabzevaar university of medical science, sabzevar, iran

⁶ Department of occupational health engineering, school of public health, sabzevar university of medical sciences, sabzevar, iran

Abstract

Background:
There are many chemicals in Portland cement including crystalline Silica. Workers’ exposure to cement airborne particles containing Free Crystal Silica may cause some serious diseases. This study was carried out to evaluate Free Crystal Silica particle concentration in the workers’ breathing zone in a cement factory in the Khorasan Razavi province.
Materials and Method:
The concentration of free Crystal Silica of respirable cement particles was evaluated on 42 sample of workers in different sections of a cement factory in the Khorasan Razavi province in 2018. Sampling of respirable particles was conducted based on standard method of MDHS101/2 recommended by NIOSH, using a personal sampling pump, a cyclone and a filter. Filters were weighed using an accurate microbalance with one microgram precision. Filter was analyzed by XRD method for determination of free crystalline silica.
Results:
The mean workers’ exposure to cement respirable particles was 3.75±4.09 mg/m3 and the average concentration of free silica in cement respirable particles was 0.12±0.3 mg/m3 in all studied sections. On average, 69 percent of workers were exposed to free silica higher than OEL. Maximum average of exposure to free silica (0.54 mg/m3) was observed in stone crushing section and the minimum average exposure was observed in Raw mill section (0.03 mg/m3).
Conclusions:
Workers exposure to respirable cement particles and free crystalline silica in respirable particles were higher than national and international exposure limits. There is a relationship between temperature and respirable particle concentration. Regarding high exposure of workers to free crystalline silica respirable particle concentration.

Keywords

References

[1]. Almasi A, et al. Survey of Pollutant emissions from stack of Saman cement factory of Kermanshah city from year 2011 to 2012. Journal of Health in the Field. 2013; 1(2(.

[2]. Neghab M, Choubineh A. The relationship between occupational exposure to cement dust and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disorders; 2007.

[3]. Vestbo, J., et al., Exposure to cement dust at a Portland cement factory and the risk of cancer. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 1991; 48(12): 803-7.

[4]. Azari MR, et al. Risk assessment of workers exposed to crystalline silica aerosols in the east zone of Tehran; 2009.

[5]. Pocock D. On-tool controls to reduce exposure to respirable dusts in the construction industry. Health and Safety Executive; 2012.

[6]. Yeheyis M, et al. Exposure to Crystalline Silica Inhalation Among Construction Workers: A Probabilistic Risk Analysis. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. 2012; 18(5): 1036-50.

[7]. Beaudry C, et al. Occupational exposure to silica in construction workers: a literature-based exposure database. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene. 2013; 10(2): 71-7.

[8]. Baron PA, et al. Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica; 2008.

[9]. Calvert G, et al. Occupational silica exposure and risk of various diseases: an analysis using death certificates from 27 states of the United States. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2003; 60(2): 122-9.

[10]. Occupational exposure limits, Center for Environment and Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Publishers: Student Hamedan; 2016.

[11]. Merenu I, et al. The effect of chronic cement dust exposure on lung function of cement factory workers in Sokoto, Nigeria. African journal of biomedical research. 2007; 10 (2).

[12]. Zeleke ZK, Moen BE, Bråtveit M. Cement dust exposure and acute lung function: a cross shift study. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2010; 10(1): 19.

[13]. Faghihi-Zarandi A, Ebrahimnejad P, Eghbal Sekhavati MR. Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica and Its Pulmonary Effects Among Workers of a Cement Factory in Saveh, Iran; 2014.

[14]. Hazrati S, et al. Dust concentrations in an Ardabil portland cement industry. Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. 2009; 9(4): 292-8.

[15]. Nourmoradi H, et al. Investigation on the dust dispersion (PM10 and PM2. 5) by Doroud Cement Plant and study of its individual exposure rates. scientific journal of ilam university of medical sciences. 2016; 24: 64-75.

[16]. Sobhanardakani S, Saedi M. Assessment of particulate matter, free silica and toxic gases emissions from Khouzestan Cement Company. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2015; 25(125): 21-31.

[17]. Thomas CR, Kelley TR, A brief review of silicosis in the United States. Environmental health insights. 2010; 4: p. EHI. S4628.

[18]. http://www.jewelrycampaign. net/eng/index.htm.

[19]. Askaripoor T, et al. Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to crystalline silica in a tile & ceramic Industry. Occupational Medicine Quarterly Journal. 2014; 6(2): 44-53.

Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences

Workers occupational exposure to Free Crystal Silica of respirable particles in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province

References

References

Volume 27, Issue 1
May and June 2020
Pages 65-72

Workers occupational exposure to Free Crystal Silica of respirable particles in a cement factory in Khorasan Razavi province

References

References

Volume 27, Issue 1May and June 2020Pages 65-72

Volume 27, Issue 1
May and June 2020
Pages 65-72