Evaluation of workers' exposure to total, respirable and silica dust and the related health symptoms in Senjedak stone quarry, Iran.

The present research was conducted in a stone quarry of marble located in northeast of Iran. Time weighted average of total dust, respirable dust, and crystalline silica (alpha-quartz) concentration in workers' breathing zone were monitored by using both gravimetric and XRD methods. The results showed that the employees working in hammer drill process had the highest exposure to the total and respirable dust: 107.9 +/- 8.0 mg/m3, 11.2 +/- 0.77 mg/m3 respectively, while the cutting machine workers had the lowest exposure (9.3 +/- 3.0 mg/m3, 1.8 +/- 0.82 mg/m3). The maximum concentration of a-quartz in total and respirable dust were detected equal to 0.670 +/- 8.49 x 10(-2) and 5.7 x 10(-2) +/- 1.6 x 10(-2) mg/m3 respectively, which belonged to the exposure of the workers of hammer drill process. The prevalence of skin and respiratory symptoms were higher in hammer drill workers, however, respiratory symptoms showed no significant prevalence. Regarding the average age of workers (31.6 +/- 1.9 yr) and average of their work history (3.8 +/- 1.0 yr), these results were predictable.