Investigation of the health effects on workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica during outdoor and underground construction projects.

Autor: Keramydas D; 1st Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece., Bakakos P; 1st Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece., Alchanatis M; 1st Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece., Papalexis P; 1st Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece., Konstantakopoulos I; Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, National Focal Point of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), 10110 Athens, Greece., Tavernaraki K; Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, 'Sotiria' Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece., Dracopoulos V; Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (ELINYAE), 10445 Athens, Greece., Papadakis A; Directorate of Public Health, Region of Crete, 71201 Heraklion, Greece., Pantazi E; Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece., Chelidonis G; National Actuarial Authority, 10559 Athens, Greece, Ministry of Interior, 10563 Athens, Greece., Chaidoutis E; Ministry of Interior, 10563 Athens, Greece., Constantinidis TC; Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Democritus University of Thrace, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece., Tsitsimpikou C; General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, 11521 Athens, Greece., Kavantzas N; 1st Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece., Patsouris E; 1st Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece., Tsarouhas K; Cardiology Department, University General Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece., Spandidos DA; Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece., Lazaris AC; 1st Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Experimental and therapeutic medicine [Exp Ther Med] 2020 Aug; Vol. 20 (2), pp. 882-889. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 25.
DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8786
Abstrakt: Chronic exposure of workers to powder containing crystalline silica (Silicon dioxide; SiO 2 ) can lead to chronic lung diseases (lung cancer, silicosis, etc.). Aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure of Greek construction workers to SiO 2 and describe their pulmonary function. The study involved 86 outdoor and underground workers. Medical and professional history was obtained, and breath samples were collected at morning hours through a mask for the determination of SiO 2 levels. Pulmonary function tests, radiological examination and evaluation of radiographs were also performed. Pulmonary function examination showed that the majority of the workers were within normal range (61.4%) while the rest were diagnosed with mild (26.5%) and more severe impairment (7.24%). Working conditions (underground-outdoor) were statistically significantly related to the categorization of pulmonary function (P=0.038). During radiological examination, the type of working activity/ conditions (underground-outdoor) were statistically significantly related to the categorization of these findings (P=0.044). Of the 69 employees, 52 did not present findings (75.4%) and 5 were diagnosed with findings specific to occupational diseases (7.23%). Environmental exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) was detected at 0.0125 mg/m 3 in the workplace, which is not beyond the legal limits. Underground workers with more than 15 years of exposure to SiO 2 are more likely to present chronic silicosis compared to the workers of outdoor activities.
(Copyright: © Keramydas et al.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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