Determinants of Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure Among Stoneworkers Involved in Stone Restoration Work

Healy, Catherine; Coggins, Marie; Tongeren, Martie van; MacCalman, Laura; McGowan, Padraic

doi:10.1093/annhyg/met045

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Use of power tools and percentage of quartz are the main determinants for increased quartz exposure concentrations. The effect of power tools corresponds well with findings from other studies among construction workers ( Healy et al , 2014 ; Baldwin et al , 2019 ). Percentage of quartz in dust reflects the material used and explains some of the difference in exposure concentrations between occupations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In general, exposure concentrations of respirable crystalline silica have declined over the past 50 years ( Yassin et al , 2005 ; Creely et al , 2007 ; Peters et al , 2011 ; Zilaout et al , 2020 ), but high concentrations are still reported in foundries ( Andersson et al , 2009 ; Radnoff et al , 2014 ), the stone and brick sector ( Healy et al , 2014 ; Radnoff et al , 2014 ; Baldwin et al , 2019 ), and in construction ( Radnoff et al , 2014 ; Bello et al , 2019 ). It was estimated that 5.3 million workers in Europe were potentially occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica in 2006, of which 75% were employed in construction ( IOM, 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Determinants of Respirable Quartz Exposure Concentrations Across Occupations in Denmark, 2018

Boudigaard

Hansen

Kolstad

et al. 2021

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background High concentrations of respirable quartz have been reported from workers in construction, foundries, and quarries. Current exposure concentrations in prevalent but presumably lower exposed occupations have been less examined. We aimed to quantify current exposure concentrations of respirable dust and quartz across prevalent occupations and to identify determinants of respirable quartz exposure across these occupations. Methods One hundred and eighty-nine full-shift personal samples of respirable dust of workers within 11 occupations in Denmark were sampled during 2018. Respirable dust was determined gravimetrically and analysed for quartz content with infrared spectrometry. Determinants for respirable quartz exposure, i.e. use of power tools, outdoor or indoor location, and percentage of quartz in respirable dust, were analysed in linear mixed effect models. Results The overall geometric means (geometric standard deviations) for respirable dust and quartz were 216 µg m−3 (4.42) and 16 µg m−3 (4.07), respectively. The highest quartz concentrations were observed among stone cutters and carvers [93 µg m−3 (3.47)], and metal melters and casters [61 µg m−3 (1.71)]. Use of power tools increased exposure concentrations of quartz by a factor of 3.5. Occupations explained 27%, companies within occupations 28%, and differences between workers within companies within occupations 14% of the variability in quartz concentrations. Thirty percent was due to day-to-day variability in exposure concentrations. In total, 19% of the variation in quartz concentration could be explained by type of tool, indoor/outdoor location, and percentage of quartz in respirable dust. Conclusion Current exposure concentrations are generally low, but some occupations in this study had average exposure concentrations to respirable quartz above the ACGIH threshold limit value of 25 µg m−3. Preventive measures to lower excess risk of quartz-related diseases among these workers are still needed. In terms of preventive strategies, use of power tools and quartz content of used materials were identified as main determinants of exposure. Lowering of exposures will be most efficient when focussed on these major determinants, e.g. tool dust control with water, dust extraction, and use of low quartz content materials.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of Respirable Quartz Exposure Concentrations Across Occupations in Denmark, 2018

Boudigaard

Hansen

Kolstad

et al. 2021

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Because mining is one of the leading industries for occupational exposure to respirable silica dust [26, 28, 35, 58, 63], this occupational health issue is both critical and timely. Mobile mine workers, bagging operators, surface drill operators, and workers for other types of mechanized equipment, including dozers, loaders, and haul trucks have some of the highest exposure rates within the industry [49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formative research to reduce mine worker respirable silica dust exposure: a feasibility study to integrate technology into behavioral interventions

Haas

Willmer

Cecala

2016

Pilot Feasibility Stud

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe use of formative research as a critical component of intervention planning is highly supported in the literature. However, studies that report such processes in practice are minimal. This paper reports on the formative data collection and analysis that informed the development of a multilevel intervention that utilizes mine assessment technology to bridge health communication between workers and management to reduce mine worker overexposure to respirable silica dust.MethodsFormative research to assess the feasibility and utility of this intervention design included stakeholder meetings and feedback, mine visits and observations, interviews with mine workers, and a focus group with mine management. Data collection took place at several US industrial mineral mine sites and a southeastern regional safety meeting. Interviews inquired about workers’ perceived susceptibility and severity to respirable silica exposure, barriers to preventing overexposure, behaviors that reduce exposure, and perceptions about respirable dust-monitoring technology. A focus group discussed mine stakeholders’ uses of various dust assessment technology.ResultsThe data was qualitatively analyzed and coded using a thematic and theoretical analysis. Researchers found recurring themes for both target audiences that informed the need and subsequent development of a mixed-method multilevel intervention to improve communication quantity and quality around dust-control practices.ConclusionsResults indicate that formative research is critical to: identify and develop an intervention that meets target audience needs; accurately represent the health problem; and develop positive relationships with research partners and stakeholders.

show abstract

“…[ 9 ] Silica is mostly found in nature as quartz, but is also used in construction materials such as limestone and concrete. [ 12 13 ] The patient in the present study was a tobacco smoker with an occupational chronic exposure to silica dust through his work with concrete and limestone. This we suspect to be the cause of the patient's PAP and the predisposing factor for his nocardial infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nocardial brain abscess in a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

Shirani¹,

Poulsen

Hakamifard

2015

Adv Biomed Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Determinants of Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure Among Stoneworkers Involved in Stone Restoration Work

Cited by 13 publications

References 35 publications

Determinants of Respirable Quartz Exposure Concentrations Across Occupations in Denmark, 2018

Determinants of Respirable Quartz Exposure Concentrations Across Occupations in Denmark, 2018

Formative research to reduce mine worker respirable silica dust exposure: a feasibility study to integrate technology into behavioral interventions

Nocardial brain abscess in a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About