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Document ID (ISN)77677
CIS number 01-1771
ISSN - Serial title 1076-2752 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Year 1999
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Alvear-Galindo M.G., Mendez-Ramirez I., Villegas-Rodriguez J.A., Chapela-Mendoza R., Eslava-Campos C.A., Laurell A.C.
Title Risk indicator of dust exposure and health effects in cement plant workers
Bibliographic information Aug. 1999, Vol.41, No.8, p.654-661. Illus. 26 ref.
Abstract A frequent problem in developing countries is the lack of reliable records on occupational hazards. This article proposes and evaluates a two-phase method for estimating particle exposure. The first phase uses the focal group technique to reconstruct the production process and estimate the level of dust exposure. The second phase applies the technique of individual history of exposure to hazards at work, an index that accumulates current and previous exposure. This method was introduced in a cement plant to assess the dust-exposure levels of workers and to evaluate its usefulness in the association between estimated exposure levels and the frequency of health effects. Results obtained showed that it is possible to reconstruct the history of exposure to cement dust during each worker's occupational history. The results also showed that estimated exposure is related to respiratory damage; higher exposure resulted in more serious diseases. This supports the usefulness of the suggested methodology.
Descriptors (primary) cement industry; respiratory diseases; health hazards; hazard evaluation; respirable dust
Descriptors (secondary) subjective assessment; description of technique; cross-sectional study; exposure evaluation
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceMexico
Subject(s) Materials, glass and ceramics
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
Cement and concrete
Risk evaluation