Occupational exposure to crystalline silica in artificial stone processing

Salamon, Fabiola; Martinelli, Andrea; Vianello, Liviano; Bizzotto, Rosana; Gottardo, Ottorino; Guarnieri, Gabriella; Franceschi, Antonia; Porru, Stefano; Cena, Lorenzo; Carrieri, Mariella

doi:10.1080/15459624.2021.1990303

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Interestingly, these mechanical processes are increasingly being carried out under wet conditions in industry, through the use of water-fed pneumatic grinders and polishers, to reduce dust exposure. Nevertheless, finishing tasks often end up being manual without water suppression, resulting in high potential for exposure to crystalline silica 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation of dust emissions from machined engineered stones to understand the hazard for accelerated silicosis

Ramkissoon

Gaskin

Thredgold

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Engineered stones are novel construction materials associated with a recent upsurge in silicosis cases among workers in the stonemason industry. In order to understand the hazard for the short latency of lung disease among stonemasons, we simulated real-time dust exposure scenario by dry-machining engineered stones in controlled conditions, capturing and analysing the respirable dust generated for physical and chemical characteristics. Natural granite and marble were included for comparison. Cutting engineered stones generated high concentrations of very fine particles (< 1 µm) with > 80% respirable crystalline silica content, in the form of quartz and cristobalite. Engineered stones also contained 8–20% resin and 1–8% by weight metal elements. In comparison, natural stones had far lower respirable crystalline silica (4- 30%) and much higher metal content, 29–37%. Natural stone dust emissions also had a smaller surface area than engineered stone, as well as lower surface charge. This study highlighted the physical and chemical variability within engineered stone types as well as between engineered and natural stones. This information will ultimately help understand the unique hazard posed by engineered stone fabrication work and help guide the development of specific engineering control measures targeting lower exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation of dust emissions from machined engineered stones to understand the hazard for accelerated silicosis

Ramkissoon

Gaskin

Thredgold

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…Our data add to published reports of RCS exposures in stone fabrication workers. Salamon et al collected a full‐shift personal air sample from 51 employees at four workplaces in Italy and reported exposures ranging from <3 to 98 μg/m 3 , 13.7% of which were above OSHA PEL 23 . Phillips et al collected 18 full‐shift personal air samples total from 11 employees at four workplaces in the United States and reported exposures ranging from 20 μg/m 3 to 3880 μg/m 3 , 77.8% of which were above OSHA PEL 24 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated exposures to respirable crystalline silica among engineered stone fabrication workers in California, January 2019–February 2020

Surasi

Ballen

Weinberg

et al. 2022

American J Industrial Med

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Background Workers fabricating engineered stone face high risk for exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and subsequent development of silicosis. In response, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) performed targeted enforcement inspections at engineered stone fabrication worksites. We investigated RCS exposures and employer adherence to Cal/OSHA's RCS and respiratory protection standards from these inspections to assess ongoing risk to stone fabrication workers. Methods We extracted employee personal air sampling results from Cal/OSHA inspection files and calculated RCS exposures. Standards require that employers continue monitoring employee RCS exposures and perform medical surveillance when exposures are at or above the action level (AL; 25 μg/m3); exposures above the permissible exposure limit (PEL; 50 μg/m3) are prohibited. We obtained RCS and respiratory protection standard violation citations from a federal database. Results We analyzed RCS exposures for 152 employees at 47 workplaces. Thirty‐eight (25%) employees had exposures above the PEL (median = 89.7 μg/m3; range = 50.7–670.7 μg/m3); 17 (11%) had exposures between the AL and PEL. Twenty‐four (51%) workplaces had ≥1 exposure above the PEL; 7 (15%) had ≥1 exposure between the AL and PEL. Thirty‐four (72%) workplaces were cited for ≥1 RCS standard violation. Twenty‐seven (57%) workplaces were cited for ≥1 respiratory protection standard violation. Conclusions Our investigation demonstrates widespread RCS overexposure among workers and numerous employer Cal/OSHA standard violation citations. More enforcement and educational efforts could improve employer compliance with Cal/OSHA standards and inform employers and employees of the risks for RCS exposure and strategies for reducing exposure.

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“…Occupational COPD has a long latency time between the exposure and diagnosis of the disease, 120 thus newly diagnosed COPD cases may be caused by exposures which began 20 or more years ago. Furthermore, new risk factors, such as irritants in cleaning agents 83 and the resurgence of old risk factors in new sectors, such as silica exposure in denim sandblasting 121 or more recently in artificial stone processing, 122 could play a role in current and future work‐related COPD cases.…”

Section: What Should a Clinician Know About Occupational Copd?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational COPD—The most under‐recognized occupational lung disease?

Murgia

Gambelunghe

2022

Respirology

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by exposure to noxious particles and gases. Smoking is the main risk factor, but other factors are also associated with COPD. Occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes contributes to the development and progression of COPD, accounting for a population attributable fraction of 14%. Workplace pollutants, in particular inorganic dust, can initiate airway damage and inflammation, which are the hallmarks of COPD pathogenesis. Occupational COPD is still underdiagnosed, mainly due to the challenges of assessing the occupational component of the disease in clinical settings, especially if other risk factors are present. There is a need for specific education and training for clinicians, and research with a focus on evaluating the role of occupational exposure in causing COPD. Early diagnosis and identification of occupational causes is very important to prevent further decline in lung function and to reduce the health and socio‐economic burden of COPD. Establishing details of the occupational history by general practitioners or respiratory physicians could help to define the occupational burden of COPD for individual patients, providing the first useful interventions (smoking cessation, best therapeutic management, etc.). Once patients are diagnosed with occupational COPD, there is a wide international variation in access to specialist occupational medicine and public health services, along with limitations in workplace and income support. Therefore, a strong collaboration between primary care physicians, respiratory physicians and occupational medicine specialists is desirable to help manage COPD patients' health and social issues.

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Occupational exposure to crystalline silica in artificial stone processing

Cited by 16 publications

References 19 publications

Characterisation of dust emissions from machined engineered stones to understand the hazard for accelerated silicosis

Characterisation of dust emissions from machined engineered stones to understand the hazard for accelerated silicosis

Elevated exposures to respirable crystalline silica among engineered stone fabrication workers in California, January 2019–February 2020

Occupational COPD—The most under‐recognized occupational lung disease?

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