Ceramics manufacturing contributes to ambient silica air pollution and burden of lung disease
Journal
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Journal Volume
22
Journal Issue
19
Pages
15067-15079
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Abstract
Inhalation of silica (SiO2) in occupational exposures can cause pulmonary fibrosis (silicosis), lung function deficits, pulmonary inflammation, and lung cancer. Current risk assessment models, however, cannot fully explain the magnitude of silica-induced pulmonary disease risk. The purpose of this study was to assess human health risk exposed to airborne silica dust in Taiwan ceramics manufacturing. We conducted measurements to characterize workplace-specific airborne silica dust in tile and commodity ceramic factories and used physiologically based alveolar exposure model to estimate exposure dose. We constructed dose–response models for describing relationships between exposure dose and inflammatory responses, by which health risks among workers can be assessed. We found that silica contents were 0.22–33.04?% with mean concentration ranges of 0.11–5.48 and 0.46–1763.30?μg?m?3, respectively, in commodity and tile ceramic factories. We showed that granulation workers in tile ceramic factory had the highest total SiO2 lung burden (?1000?mg) with cumulative SiO2 lung burden of ?4 × 104?mg-year. The threshold estimates with an effect on human lung inflammation and fibrosis are 407.31 ± 277.10 (mean ± sd) and 505.91 ± 231.69?mg, respectively. For granulation workers, long-term exposure to airborne silica dust for 30–45?years was likely to pose severe adverse health risks of inflammation and fibrosis. We provide integrated assessment algorithms required to implement the analyses and maintain resulting concentration of silica dust at safety threshold level in the hope that they will stimulate further analyses and interpretation. We suggest that decision-makers take action to implement platforms for effective risk management to prevent the related long-term occupational disease in ceramics manufacturing. ? 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Subjects
Air pollution; Ceramics manufacturing; Lung; Risk assessment; Silica; Silicosis
Other Subjects
air quality; atmospheric pollution; building construction; ceramics; concentration (composition); health risk; occupational exposure; physiological response; respiratory disease; risk assessment; silica; workplace; Taiwan; air pollutant; dust; silicon dioxide; adverse effects; air pollutant; analysis; body burden; ceramics; chemically induced; dose response; dust; human; lung tumor; Occupational Diseases; occupational exposure; pharmacokinetics; pneumonia; probability; risk assessment; silicosis; standards; Taiwan; threshold limit value; toxicity; workplace; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Body Burden; Ceramics; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dust; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Pneumonia; Probability; Risk Assessment; Silicon Dioxide; Silicosis; Taiwan; Threshold Limit Values; Workplace
Type
journal article