Association between Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure and Silicosis Development in Artificial Stone Workers
Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemAutor
Requena Mullor, María del Mar; Alarcón Rodríguez, Raquel; Parrón Carreño, Tesifón; Martínez López, Jose Joaquín; Lozano Paniagua, David; Hernández Jérez, Antonio FranciscoEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Artificial stone Respirable crystalline silica Silicosis Occupational exposure Pulmonary disease Occupational epidemiology
Fecha
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Requena-Mullor, M.; Alarcón-Rodríguez, R.; Parrón-Carreño, T.; Martínez-López, J.J.; Lozano-Paniagua, D.; Hernández, A.F. Association between Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure and Silicosis Development in Artificial Stone Workers. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5625. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115625
Resumen
Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (SiO2
) is one of the most common and
serious risks because of the health consequences for the workers involved. Silicosis is a progressive,
irreversible, and incurable fibrotic lung disease caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline
silica dust. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out to assess the occupational risk
factors that may contribute to the onset of silicosis in workers carrying out work activities with the
inhalation of silica compact dust. The study population consisted of 311 artificial stone workers
from the province of Almeria (southeast of Spain). Among them, 64 were previously diagnosed
with silicosis and the rest of the participants (n = 247 workers) were not diagnosed with such a
disease. The workers showing a greater risk of developing silicosis were those who installed kitchen
worktops at consumers’ homes, as they did not use face-masks or were not provided with personal
protective equipment (PPE) by their business. The results of this study provide support for the
evidence indicating that silicosis is a major emerging health concern for workers in the artificial stone
sector. Exposure to crystalline silica dust thus can influence the development of silicosis in those
cases where individual and collective protection measures are not used or adequately applied.