[Health status of dust-exposed workers in a precision casting enterprise]

Objective: To investigate the health status of workers exposed to zircon sand and silica dust in a precision casting enterprise, and to provide a basis for the development of prevention and control measures. Methods: Occupational health examination, questionnaire survey, and field investigation of occupational health were performed for 176 male workers (18 workers in the zirconium dust exposure group, 109 in the non-zirconium dust exposure group, and 49 in the non-dust exposure group) in a precision casting enterprise, and a statistical analysis was performed for the data obtained. Results: Dust and noise were major hazard factors for occupational diseases in this enterprise. The abnormal rate of physical examination was 71.02%. Compared with the non-zirconium dust exposure group, the zirconium dust exposure group had significantly higher detection rates of restrictive ventilatory dysfunction, increased immunoglobulin IgE, increased alanine aminotransferase, and increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P<0.05) ; compared with the non-dust exposure group, the zirconium dust exposure group had a significantly higher detection rate of increased ALP (P<0.05) . Of all workers, 15 were found to have pneumoconiosis-like changes (11 had pneumoconiosis and 4 needed observation) , among whom 4 were in the zirconium dust exposure group (3 had pneumoconiosis and 1 needed observation) and 11 were in the non-zirconium dust exposure group (8 had pneumoconiosis and 3 needed observation) . The detection rate of pneumoconiosis-like changes showed no significant differences between the two groups (20.22% vs 10.09%) . Conclusions: There was a severe dust hazard in this enterprise. Inhalation of dust containing zirconium is associated with respiratory system injury, especially the development of pneumoconiosis, and it may also cause immune dysfunction and liver impairment.