Exposure to Silica, Arsenic, and Chromium (VI) in Cement Workers: A Probability Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

Cement mineral dust contains a variety of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances. The study aimed to determine the probability of health risk among cement workers due to respirable silica (Si), arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr) VI dust exposure. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 123 cement workers. A personal air sampling pump was used to assess respirable cement dust exposure. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for As, and Cr analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was used for Si analysis. The Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide levels and lung function test were obtained by using NIOX MINO and Chestgraph H1-105 spirometer. Risk assessment was calculated by using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and non-cancerous hazard quotient (HQ). The geometric mean and standard deviation of respirable Si and Cr dust concentrations were 5.27 ± 2.36 mg m-3 and 1.53 ± 2.47 mg m-3 , respectively, in manufacturing workers. The mean concentration for As in administrative workers was 0.07 ± 0.02 mg m-3. After controlling for confounders, the abnormalities of FVC% predicted and FEV 1 % predicted were significantly associated with the respirable Si dust among cement workers (OR = 6.913; CI = 1.965-24.322 and OR = 18.320; CI = 3.078-109.027). FENO concentrations in administrative workers were significantly influenced by the exposure to respirable Si dust (R 2 = 0.584, p = 0.006). Manufacturing workers had a high probability of getting cancer due to Si exposure in cement respirable dust at 29.81 × 10-4 times compared to administrative workers at 4.14 × 10-4 times. After reducing for control factors, the probability of manufacturing workers reduced to 0.45 × 10-4 times. As and Cr (VI) dust exposures among cement workers had a probability of cancer risk of 7.49 × 10-4 and 44.09 × 10-4 times, respectively, after reducing for control factors. The non-cancerous disease risk of the workers from exposure to cement mineral dust exceeded the acceptance limit (HQ > 1). Cement workers were at high risk of developing cancerous and non-cancerous diseases due to exposure while working. Cement workers were highly exposed to respirable Si, As, and Cr dust above the permissible exposure limit.

Subchronic pulmonary toxicity of ambient particles containing cement production–related elements

“…We found that concentrations of arsenic, barium, and zirconium were significantly higher in the CPM (762.4, 1696.0, and 51.2 ppb, respectively) compared with the PM used in the previous study (20.67, 90.80, and 30.05 ppb, respectively) [30] , and thallium was detected at a significant level in the current sample. Inhaled arsenic was closely associated with a high cancer risk among cement workers, as were silica and hexavalent chromium [20] . In addition, thallium can bind to particles during coal combustion and cement production [22] , barium and zirconium have also been known to be applied in some cement manufacturing processes to improve the quality of concrete [1] , [50] .…”

Red Cell Distribution Width and Mean Corpuscular Volume Alterations: Detecting Inflammation Early in Occupational Cement Dust Exposure

“…The management of such chronic diseases may become burdensome and often impossible for the working class who are living in poverty, particularly in LMICs [29,55]. Subclinical inflammation under cement dust exposure may be determined using RDW and MCV, which are sensitive to early inflammatory changes and are accessible and affordable [30,[56][57][58].…”

Remediation Opportunities for Arsenic-Contaminated Gold Mine Waste

“…Additionally, no toxicity tests were conducted on cement dust such as the Microtox bioassay. The primary carcinogenic elements in cement dust are As, silica (Si), and chromium (Cr) [79]. A study by Kamaludin et al [79] addressed the toxic effects of exposure to As-, Si-, and Cr-rich cement dust for cement workers and administrative staff in the cement industry.…”

“…The primary carcinogenic elements in cement dust are As, silica (Si), and chromium (Cr) [79]. A study by Kamaludin et al [79] addressed the toxic effects of exposure to As-, Si-, and Cr-rich cement dust for cement workers and administrative staff in the cement industry. Administrative staff had higher risk of exposure and health impacts such as lung damage because of the absence of control measures (e.g., N95 masks) [79].…”