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DRY SAND-BLASTING DURING COSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES:
A REMARKABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA EXPOSURE
XXVIII INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ISSA CONSTRUCTION SECTION
SALVADOR DE BAHIA - BRAZIL - 2006
Introduction
Respirable silica-quartz (SC) causes silicosis after chronic exposure. The formation of scattered, rounded or stellate silica-containing nodules of scar tissue in the lungs characterize classical silicosis. It may be slowly progressive, even in the absence of continued exposure. Acute silicosis may occur under conditions of extremely high SC dust exposure, particularly when the particles size of the dust is very small and sharp.
This disease differs from classical silicosis in that it is rapidly progressive with diffuse pulmonary involvement. Animal studies have indicated an increased risk of lung cancer and in the past 15 years understanding the health effects of industrial silica dust exposure has altered dramatically because SC is now classified as a Type 1 IARC carcinogen.
Among the different facets of construction industry, residential and commercial buildings are of particular interest because the lack of exposure data for workers employed in this sector.
In Italy, no data virtually exists for construction industry in general, and even less for building activities. The most part of materials used in construction may be a potential source of occupational exposure to respirable dust and that dust can contain a considerable amount of SC.
In this study a dry sand-blasting activity, used for paint removing of wooden-beam and brick ceilings, has been investigated.
Methods
 The survey has been carried out in a civil dwelling of about 40 square meters. The worker, wore assisted breathing mask, has used about 2000 kg of sand. Sixteen grab (short-term) samples have been collected using the SKC aluminium cyclone at flow-rate of 2.5 lit/min and the respirable dust samples were analyzed for SC by x-ray diffraction using NIOSH method 7500.
When an excessive amount of material was collectd on the filter, the samples where treated as bulk samples.
Results
Exposure level to dust and SC during sand-blasting
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| * Mean |
Conclusions
Even if the results of this study should be considered preliminary, they showed SC respirable concentrations many times above TLV-TWA (more than 50 times) during a dry sand-blasting activity.
Awaiting the correct classification from the European Community, it would be desirable that the workers would had appropriate informations on the specific risks associated to the use of such materials and, if possible, they could use alternative safe compounds.
• F. CAVARIANI
• A.P. CARNEIRO SCALIA
• L. BEDINI
• M. DE ROSSI
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Laboratorio di Igiene Industriale - Dipartimento di Prevenzione
Azienda Sanitaria Locale Viterbo (Italy)
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| G. CASTELLET Y BALLARÀ |
Istituto Nazionale per l'Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro - INAIL - Contarp Centrale (Rome - Italy)
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• C. FANIZZA
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Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e Sicurezza sul Lavoro - ISPESL (Rome - Italy)
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| • A. MARCONI |
Istituto Superiore di Sanità - ISS (Rome - Italy) |
Laboratorio di Igiene Industriale - Dipartimento di Prevenzione Azienda Sanitaria Locale Viterbo (Italy)
e-mail: labig@asl.vt.it - www.prevenzioneonline.net
This study was supported by a grant from ISPESL n. C14/DIL/02
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