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Silicosis among Stone- Cutter Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Mashaallah Aghilinejad1, Ali Naserbakht2, Morteza Naserbakht2
1Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran ; Occupational Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Production process of most factory-made products is harmful to our health and environment. Silica is the most important stone used in stone cutting factories. Numerous researches have reported respiratory diseases due to the inhalation of these particles in various occupations. Silicosis is a disease with typical radiographic pattern caused as the result of inhalation of silica particles. According to the intensity of exposures and onset of initiation of clinical symptoms silicosis is classified into three groups of acute, chronic and accelerated forms. The present study evaluated silicosis among stone cutter workers.
Materials And Methods:
This cross sectional study was performed on stone cutter workers in Malayer city (Azandarian) between 2008 and 2009. Respiratory data of our study participants were collected with a respiratory questionnaire and performing spirometry tests and chest radiography.
Results:
Among our participants, 16 silicosis cases were diagnosed by radiographic changes. Among them, 10 workers had exposure for more than three years and 6 workers were smokers. Eleven workers had an abnormal radiographic pattern on their chest x-rays. Seven workers had obstructive and 4 workers had restrictive spirometric patterns.
Conclusion:
Prevalence of silicosis was high among our understudy workers and preventive strategies are required to control it.
