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Document ID (ISN)112377
CIS number 12-0233
Year 2006
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Acaíno Lara J., Solís Vega R., Quintanilla Barros P.
Title Study of exposure to silica - Chile 2004-2005
Original title Estudio de la exposición a sílice - Chile 2004-2005 [in Spanish]
Bibliographic information Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Departamento Salud Ocupacional y Contaminación Ambiental, av. Marathon 1000, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7780050, Chile, 2006, 94p. Illus. 32 ref.
Internet access Estudio_de_la_exposición_a_sílice_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [in Spanish]
Abstract The Public Health Institute of Chile carried out an evaluation of the level of exposure of workers to silica in the country. 132 companies involved in various fields of industry were assessed, from which a total of 394 air samples were analyzed. It was found that 35% of the samples exceeded the weighted average permissible limits . The percentage of workers with a high probability of exposure to silica (working more than 30h per week in the presence of silica) was estimated using a job-exposure matrix developed by industrial hygiene experts. It is concluded that 5.4% of the employed workforce has a high risk of exposure to silica. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Descriptors (primary) Chile; silica; respirable dust; exposure evaluation
Descriptors (secondary) breathing atmosphere; airborne dust; determination in air; job-exposure relation; comment on standard
Document type E - Books, reports, proceedings
Country / State or ProvinceChile
Subject(s) Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Air pollution
Exposure evaluation