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Personal exposure to inhalable cement dust among construction workers
Susan Peters1, Yngvar Thomassen, Edeltraud Fechter-Rink
1Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Environmental Epidemiology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM
|January 13, 2009
Summary
Construction workers face significant cement dust exposure, with highest levels during cement production cleaning tasks. Job type and environmental factors like wind and rain influence exposure at construction sites.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Hygiene
Background:
- Construction and cement production workers are exposed to inhalable dust.
- Understanding cement dust exposure levels and their determinants is crucial for worker safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cement dust exposure and its determinants among construction workers.
- To compare exposure levels between construction sites and cement/concrete production facilities.
Main Methods:
- Conducted full-shift personal exposure measurements for inhalable dust and cement content.
- Utilized linear mixed models to analyze exposure variability.
- Analyzed elemental composition to determine dust sources.
Main Results:
- Inhalable dust concentrations varied widely, from 0.05 to 34 mg/m³ at construction sites (mean 1.0 mg/m³).
- Cement production showed the highest exposure, especially during cleaning (inhalable dust GM = 55 mg/m³).
- Factors like using a broom, wind speed, and rain significantly impacted exposure.
Conclusions:
- Job type is a primary predictor of cement dust exposure in construction.
- Cement production environments, particularly during cleaning, present considerably higher exposure risks than construction sites.
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