TY - JOUR ID - 240142 TI - Risk Evaluation of Construction Workers' Exposure to Silica Dust and the Possible Lung Function Impairments JO - TANAFFOS (Respiration) JA - RSPR LA - en SN - 1735-0344 AU - Tavakol, Elahe AU - Azari, Mansour AU - Zendehdel, Rezvan AU - Salehpour, Sousan AU - Khodakrim, Soheila AU - Nikoo, Saeed AU - Saranjam, Behzad AD - College of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran, AD - Safety Promotion and Injuries Prevention Research Center, College of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, AD - School of Public Health, School of Paramedical Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, AD - Ministry of Roads & Urban Development, Islamic Republic of Iran . Y1 - 2017 PY - 2017 VL - 16 IS - 4 SP - 295 EP - 303 KW - Construction KW - Crystalline silica KW - PNOS KW - Respiratory system DO - N2 - Background: Aerosols generated during construction activities are an integral part of building operations. Considering the nature of materials used in construction activities, respirable dust contains crystalline silica and particulates not otherwise specified (PNOS). Due to lack of data regarding the occupational health status of Iranian construction workers, the objective of this study was to evaluate occupational exposure to silica and to examine their respiratory health status. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 85 construction workers and 40 controls (without active exposure to construction dust) were studied. The workers’ exposure to PNOS and silica aerosols was monitored by the NIOSH method No.0600 and a new Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-based method, respectively. All subjects were also monitored for lung function parameters, such as forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75), FVC, and FEV1. Results: The mean exposure of workers to respirable PNOS and silica was 9.8 (0.35) and 0.13 (0.019) mg/m3, respectively. The groups of construction workers showed significant differences in exposure to PNOS (p < 0.001) and silica (P= 0.007). The mean pulmonary function parameters, including FEV1% and FVC%, were significantly lower among construction workers, compared to the control group (p < 0.001 and P= 0.009, respectively). The pulmonary status of 51.8% of construction workers showed moderate restriction, while 4.70% exhibited obstruction. Conclusion: Considering the construction workers' excessive exposure to PNOS and silica, besides depressed lung function parameters, they can be classified as a high-risk group for respiratory diseases. UR - https://www.tanaffosjournal.ir/article_240142.html L1 - https://www.tanaffosjournal.ir/article_240142_84c40c4844ee69b3d3d4d34169312ae7.pdf ER -