Determination of Construction Workers’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Respirable Dust
Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention),
Vol. 3 No. 4 (2016),
2 Farvardin 2016
,
Page 270 - 263
https://doi.org/10.22037/meipm.v3i4.11855
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The dust raised in construction activities is one of the most important occupational hazard for health of construction workers. Due to the nature of the raw materials used, dust contains crystalline silica, which is classified as a confirmed human carcinogen. Due to the lack of personal monitoring of construction workers in Iran, this study was designed to evaluate occupational exposure to the general dust and its component crystalline silica.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, occupational exposure of 85 construction workers was evaluated. Workers were monitored for respirable general dust and crystalline silica using methods issued by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (No.0600 and No.7602). Risk assessments in the form of excess mortality rate due to silicosis and lung cancer based on the models presented by Rice and Manettej were calculated.
Results: The mean exposure of workers to general respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica dust were 9.8 ±0.35 and 0.13 ± 0.019 as mg/m3 respectively. Workers’ exposure in various task groups had statically significant differences in exposures to respirable dust (P<0.001) and respirable crystalline silica (P = 0.007). Task groups batching and concrete workers had the highest average exposure to general respirable dust (11.38 ±0.77 mg/m3). Cement workers had highest mean exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust (0.184 ±0.07 mg/m3). Construction workers’ risk for Mortality rate of silicosis and lung cancer were predicted to be in range of 1-40 and 49-21 per thousand respectively.
Conclusion: Due to the high exposure and unacceptable risk assessment of Iranian construction workers to respirable crystalline silica and respirable general dusts, administrative and technical control measures are justified.
How to cite this article: Tavakol E, Rezazadeh Azari M, Salehpour S, Khodakarim S. Determination of Construction Workers’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Respirable Dust. Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention).2016; 3(4):263-270.
- occupational exposure, construction industry, respirable general dust, respirable crystalline silica, risk assessment
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