RT Journal Article
T1 Association between Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure and Silicosis Development in Artificial Stone Workers
A1 Requena-Mullor, Mar
A1 Alarcón-Rodríguez, Raquel
A1 Parrón-Carreño, Tesifón
A1 Martínez-López, Jose Joaquín
A1 Lozano-Paniagua, David
A1 Hernández, Antonio F.
K1 Artificial stone
K1 Respirable crystalline silica
K1 Silicosis
K1 Occupational exposure
K1 Pulmonary disease
K1 Occupational epidemiology
K1 Exposición profesional
K1 Enfermedades pulmonares
K1 Riesgos laborales
K1 Material particulado
K1 Exposición por inhalación
AB 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.
PB MDPI
SN 1661-7827
YR 2021
FD 2021-05-25
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/4235
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/4235
LA en
NO Requena-Mullor M, Alarcón-Rodríguez R, Parrón-Carreño T, Martínez-López JJ, Lozano-Paniagua D, Hernández AF. Association between Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure and Silicosis Development in Artificial Stone Workers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 25;18(11):5625
DS RISalud
RD Apr 8, 2025