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Respiratory parameters at varied altitudes in intermittent mining work
Alessandro Bacaloni1, Margarita Cecilia Zamora Saà2, Federica Sinibaldi3
1Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Department of Chemistry). alessandro.bacaloni@uniroma1.it.
Summary
Mining work at high altitudes poses health risks. Exposure to airborne silica and altitude impacts miners' cardiovascular and respiratory health, necessitating further risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Medicine
- Cardiopulmonary Physiology
Background:
- Mining industry workers at high altitudes face risks from silica dust and low barometric pressure.
- Understanding the combined effects of altitude, silica exposure, and work shifts on miner health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risks for mining industry workers at high altitudes.
- To evaluate the impact of airborne silica, altitude, and work shifts on cardiovascular and ventilatory parameters.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated healthy miners in Chile working at various altitudes and shifts.
- Investigated cardiovascular and respiratory parameters, including hemoglobin and oxygen saturation.
- Assessed airborne silica exposure in relation to occupational exposure limits.
Main Results:
- Altitude and work shifts caused alterations in hemoglobin, ventilation, and respiratory parameters.
- Increased altitude led to higher hemoglobin and decreased oxygen saturation (<90% in highest mines).
- Longer exposure to altitude correlated with increased FVC% and FEV1, while silica exposure inversely correlated with FVC.
Conclusions:
- Working conditions in high-altitude mines are potentially pathogenic.
- Further research is needed to integrate risk assessment protocols for these unconventional work environments.