Longitudinal study of pulmonary function trends and associated risk factors in iron ore miners

The mining industry involves various processes, including extraction, crushing, milling, stacking, and reclaiming mineral substances. Workers in these environments are at risk of respiratory diseases due to exposure to high concentrations of pollutants, such as respirable dust. This study was conducted on sweepers, supervisors, and office workers of an iron ore Concentrate and Raw pellet production plants. Sampling and analysis of respirable dust, crystalline silica, and iron dust were performed according to NIOSH 0600, NIOSH 7601, and OSHA ID-121 methods, respectively. The values ​​of lung function indices were extracted from personnel medical records over the years of their work experiences. The results showed that the highest mean concentration of respirable dust, iron, and crystalline silica dust belongs to the sweeper group and the lowest mean concentration belongs to the office group. The reduction rate of pulmonary functions over time was also higher in the sweeper and supervisor groups than in the office group. The effective factors on the pulmonary functions were age, work experience, academic education level, occupational group, cigarette and waterpipe smoking, and type of employment.