Application of Multiple Occupational Health Risk Assessment Models for Crystalline Silica Dust among Stone Carvers

Rahimimoghadam, Somayeh; Ganjali, Ali; Khanjani, Narges; Normohammadi, Mohammad; Yari, Saeed

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.11.3999

Application of Multiple Occupational Health Risk Assessment Models for Crystalline Silica Dust among Stone Carvers

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.

² Student Research Committee, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

³ Department of Medical Education, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, TX, United States of America.

⁴ Occupational Health Engineering, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

⁵ Environmental Engineering-Air Pollution, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.11.3999

Abstract

Objective: Silica is the most abundant substance on the Earth’s crust and is a proven carcinogen. The aim of this study was to measure the occupational exposure of stone carvers to crystalline silica and to evaluate the health risks. Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 79 stone carvers. Inhalation air sampling was performed by the NIOSH7500 method and the amount of silica was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Semi-quantitative and quantitative risk assessments were performed using the methods of the Singapore Department and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), respectively. Mortality due to silicosis and lung cancer were estimated using the Manettej and Rice models. Data were analyzed using SPSS23 software. Results: The mean exposure to total inhalable dust and crystalline silica among the stone carvers was 1.44 and 0.5 mg/m3, respectively. Exposure to total dust and silica was significantly higher than the occupational standard (P <0.0001). Stone carvers’ exposure to silica was at very high-risk level, and the carcinogenicity of silica considering two cancer slopes was 7.40 × 10-6 and 3.12 × 10-7 and the risk of non-carcinogenicity was unacceptable. Conclusion: The mortality rate due to silicosis was between 3 and 12 people per thousand, and due to lung cancer was 150.24 people per thousand. Based on the results of risk assessment, serious control measures should be implemented in order to reduce workers’ exposure to silica.

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