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Document ID (ISN)73590
CIS number 99-1608
ISSN - Serial title 0003-4878 - Annals of Occupational Hygiene
Year 1997
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Seixas N.S., Heyer N.J., Welp E.A.E., Checkoway H.
Title Quantification of historical dust exposures in the diatomaceous earth industry
Bibliographic information Oct. 1997, Vol.41, No.5, p.591-604. Illus. 12 ref.
Abstract Quantitative estimates of dust exposure in a diatomaceous earth mining and milling operation have been derived based on air sampling records for the period 1948-1988. Geometric mean concentrations were 0.37mg/m3 during the 1950s and 0.17mg/m3 during later periods. Exposures were estimated using two linear models, one estimating the changes in concentration over time and the other providing job-specific mean exposures during the more recent period. Average estimated respirable dust concentrations for 135 jobs were 3.55mg/m3 (prior to 1949), 1.37mg/m3 (1949-1953), 0.47mg/m3 (1954-1973) and 0.29mg/m3 (1974-1988). Despite the limitations of the available data, the estimation procedures used are expected to provide reasonable quantitative estimates of silica-containing dust exposure for subsequent exposure-response analyses. Topics: diatomaceous earth; silica; dust level; dust measurement; exposure evaluation; exposure records; job-exposure relation; mathematical models; mining and quarrying; respirable dust.
Descriptors (primary) diatomaceous earth; silica; mining and quarrying; exposure evaluation; respirable dust
Descriptors (secondary) dust level; dust measurement; mathematical models; exposure records; job-exposure relation
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Mines and quarries
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Mining and quarrying
Exposure evaluation