Survey of Exposure to Cement Dust and Its Effect on Respiratory Function in Workers of a Cement Complex

Cement dust is one of the workplace harmful chemicals. There is a disagreement about respiratory effects of cement. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the respiratory effects of exposure to cement dust.

The subjects consisted of 148 male workers (94 workers with current exposure to cement dust and 54 healthy unexposed employees as a referent group). Respiratory symptom questionnaires, as suggested by the American Thoracic Society, were administered to them. Determination of exposure was carried out by personal dust monitoring. Furthermore, the subjects underwent lung function tests by a spirometer. The data were analyzed applying t test and chi-square test.

The mean values of respirable and dust concentrations were estimated to be 7.70± 1.2 and 67.4± 5.4 mg/m3. Significant decrements in the parameters of pulmonary function were noted (p<0.05).

The findings of this study indicate that a strong association exists between exposure to cement dust and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and functional impairments of the lungs.