Si Si1, Renee N Carey2, Alison Reid2, Timothy Driscoll3, Deborah C Glass4, Susan Peters5, Geza Benke3, Ellie Darcey2, Lin Fritschi2. 1. 1.School of Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia; si.si@curtin.edu.au. 2. 1.School of Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia; 3. 2.School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 4. 3.Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia; 5. 4.Occupational Respiratory Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a biologically active dust that can accumulate in the lung and induce silicosis and lung cancer. Despite occupational exposure being the predominant source, no study has described current occupational RCS exposure on a national scale in Australia. The aim of this study is to estimate the characteristics of those exposed and the circumstances of RCS exposure in Australian workplaces. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of the Australian working population (18-65 years old) was conducted. Information about the respondents' current job and their demographic characteristics was collected in a telephone interview. Occupational exposure to RCS was determined based on preprogrammed decision rules regarding potential levels of exposure associated with self-reported tasks. RESULTS: Overall, 6.4% of respondents were deemed exposed to RCS at work in 2012 (3.3% were exposed at a high level). The exposure varied with sex, state of residence, and socioeconomic status. Miners and construction workers were most likely to be highly exposed to RCS when performing tasks with concrete or cement or working near crushers that create RCS-containing dusts. When extrapolated to the entire Australian working population, 6.6% of Australian workers were exposed to RCS and 3.7% were highly exposed when carrying out tasks at work. CONCLUSION: This is the first study investigating occupational RCS exposure in an entire national working population. The information about occupational tasks that lead to high level RCS exposure provided by this study will inform the direction of occupational interventions and policies.
BACKGROUND: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a biologically active dust that can accumulate in the lung and induce silicosis and lung cancer. Despite occupational exposure being the predominant source, no study has described current occupational RCS exposure on a national scale in Australia. The aim of this study is to estimate the characteristics of those exposed and the circumstances of RCS exposure in Australian workplaces. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of the Australian working population (18-65 years old) was conducted. Information about the respondents' current job and their demographic characteristics was collected in a telephone interview. Occupational exposure to RCS was determined based on preprogrammed decision rules regarding potential levels of exposure associated with self-reported tasks. RESULTS: Overall, 6.4% of respondents were deemed exposed to RCS at work in 2012 (3.3% were exposed at a high level). The exposure varied with sex, state of residence, and socioeconomic status. Miners and construction workers were most likely to be highly exposed to RCS when performing tasks with concrete or cement or working near crushers that create RCS-containing dusts. When extrapolated to the entire Australian working population, 6.6% of Australian workers were exposed to RCS and 3.7% were highly exposed when carrying out tasks at work. CONCLUSION: This is the first study investigating occupational RCS exposure in an entire national working population. The information about occupational tasks that lead to high level RCS exposure provided by this study will inform the direction of occupational interventions and policies.
Authors: Alberto Abad; Saki Gerassis; Ángeles Saavedra; Eduardo Giráldez; Julio F García; Javier Taboada Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2018-08-18 Impact factor: 4.223
Authors: Ryan F Hoy; Mohamed F Jeebhay; Catherine Cavalin; Weihong Chen; Robert A Cohen; Elizabeth Fireman; Leonard H T Go; Antonio León-Jiménez; Alfredo Menéndez-Navarro; Marcos Ribeiro; Paul-André Rosental Journal: Respirology Date: 2022-03-18 Impact factor: 6.175