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Gorman Ng M, Li AM, Lavoué J, Davies HW. Determinants of respirable crystalline silica exposure in construction in western Canada. Ann Work Expo Health 2023; 67:847-857. [PMID: 37348109 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Task-based respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure monitoring data was collected from construction work sites across 3 Canadian provinces: Alberta, British Columbia (BC), and Manitoba. In total 373 RCS samples were obtained from 70 worksites across 44 companies. Sampling was conducted between May 2015 and August 2020. The overall geometric mean (GM) RCS exposure was 0.045 mg/m3 (geometric standard deviation, GSD = 6.8). Alberta had the highest average exposure and the highest variability with GM of 0.060 mg/m3 (GSD = 9.3), the GM in BC was 0.044 (GSD = 4.3), and in Manitoba the GM was 0.033 (GSD = 7.0). A multivariable model was built using forward stepwise linear regression modeling. Province, task type, work environment (indoor vs. outdoor), construction material, sampling duration, and engineering control use were all statistically significant predictors of exposure level in partial F-tests (P < 0.05). Overall, the model explained 42% of the RCS concentration variability. Task type contributed most to the model's explanatory power. The task type with highest average exposure levels was demolition (GM 0.30 mg/m3, GSD 0.49). Breaking (GM 0.16 mg/m3, GSD 8.4) and grinding (GM 0.081 m/m3, GSD 7.4) also had high-exposure levels. Working outdoors was associated with exposure levels 39% lower than indoors. Exposure control measures such as local exhaust ventilation and wetting were also associated with lower exposure levels. Among construction materials, Cement, sand, and stone were associated with higher RCS exposure levels relative to the reference material, concrete. The results of this study indicate that workers in western Canada remain exposed to RCS at levels that exceed the health-based American Congress for Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value of 0.025 mg/m3. Although there were some differences in exposure levels between the provinces, the determinants of exposure were similar in all 3. The overall GM RCS exposure was 0.045 mg/m3 (geometric standard deviation, GSD = 6.8). Alberta had the highest average exposure and the highest variability with GM of 0.060 mg/m3 (GSD = 9.3), the GM in BC was 0.044 (GSD = 4.3), and in Manitoba the GM was 0.033 (GSD = 7.0).
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Gorman Ng
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- BC Construction Safety Alliance, New Westminster, British Columbia V3M 5Y4, Canada
| | - Avril Mu Li
- BC Construction Safety Alliance, New Westminster, British Columbia V3M 5Y4, Canada
| | - Jérôme Lavoué
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Université de Montréal, School of Public Health, Montréal, Quebec H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Hugh W Davies
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Couture A, Charuvil Elizabeth RM, Lefsrud L, Sattari F. Evaluation of workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica in road construction industries in Alberta. Toxicol Ind Health 2023:7482337231176602. [PMID: 37258490 DOI: 10.1177/07482337231176602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is common for several occupations in construction, not only because of its presence in many handling materials but also in processes such as grinding and sawing. This study investigated workplace exposure to RCS as quartz in industries and occupations within road construction in Alberta through the RCS monitoring database provided by the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA) between 2007 and 2016. Descriptive statistics were calculated for exposure-related variables, and mixed model analysis was performed to determine factors affecting the exposure levels. Results showed that the highest exposed workers were in the sand and gravel industry (GM = 45 μg/m3). For worker occupations, geometric means ranged from 78 μg/m3 for crusher operators to 10 μg/m3 for concrete truck operators. The maximum exposure severity was 33.3 times the occupational exposure limit (OEL) for the sand and gravel and 31 times the OEL for tower operators. The results also showed the effect of seasonal variability on RCS exposure levels. The heterogeneous exposure results indicated significant room for improvement and that controls should focus more on the activity performed than the occupation to lower exposure to RCS levels in industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Couture
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rose Marie Charuvil Elizabeth
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lianne Lefsrud
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Fereshteh Sattari
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Dogbla L, Gouvenelle C, Thorin F, Lesage FX, Zak M, Ugbolue UC, Charbotel B, Baker JS, Pereira B, Dutheil F. Occupational Risk Factors by Sectors: An Observational Study of 20,000 Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3632. [PMID: 36834326 PMCID: PMC9967294 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the prevalence of exposure by sector and the sectors of activity most exposed to each exposure, using routine occupational health data, and to quantify the risk of being exposed. METHOD Occupational risk factors were assessed by workers followed by the Occupational Health Service of Cher, using self-reported questionnaires. The sectors of activity were grouped into seven sectors, and the risks were grouped into six occupational exposure groups. Comparisons were made using the Chi-squared test and Cramer's V, and the odds ratios were calculated by using logistic regression. RESULTS We included 19,891 workers. The construction sector had the highest prevalence (p < 0.05 vs. all other sectors) of exposure to physical (76%) and biomechanical factors (82%), as well as chemical risks (75%). Human health and social work was the sector with the highest prevalence of exposure to biological factors (69%), psychosocial factors (90%), and atypical working hours (61%). With workers from administrative and support sectors as the reference, construction workers had more chance of declaring exposure to physical factors (OR = 3.28, 95%CI = 2.89 to 3.72), biomechanical factors (1.82, 1.58 to 2.09), and chemical agents (3.83, 3.38 to 4.33). Workers from the human health and social sectors had more chance of being exposed to biological agents (13.4, 11.9 to 15.2), atypical working hours (1.93, 1.75 to 2.14), and psychosocial factors (2.74, 2.38 to 3.16). CONCLUSION Psychosocial risk factors were commonly reported in all sectors. Workers in the construction, human health, and social sectors seem to report more exposures than those in other sectors. The analysis of occupational exposures is a necessary basis to build an efficient preventive strategy for occupational health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luther Dogbla
- Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Occupational Medicine, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Occupational Health Service of Cher (APST18), 18000 Bourges, France
| | - Cédric Gouvenelle
- Occupational Health Service of Cher (APST18), 18000 Bourges, France
- CNRS, Acté, University Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Florence Thorin
- Occupational Health Service of Cher (APST18), 18000 Bourges, France
| | | | - Marek Zak
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, The Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
| | - Ukadike Chris Ugbolue
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Institute for Clinical Exercise & Health Science, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow G72 0LH, UK
| | - Barbara Charbotel
- UMRESTTE, Domaine Rockefeller, University Lyon 1, 69373 Lyon, France
| | - Julien S. Baker
- Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Bruno Pereira
- Clinical Research and Innovation Direction, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Dutheil
- Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Occupational Medicine, WittyFit, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Virji MA, Cummings KJ, Cox-Ganser JM. A Strategy for Field Evaluations of Exposures and Respiratory Health of Workers at Small- to Medium-Sized Coffee Facilities. Front Public Health 2021; 9:705225. [PMID: 34858915 PMCID: PMC8631862 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.705225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coffee production is a global industry with roasteries throughout the world. Workers in this industry are exposed to complex mixtures of gases, dusts, and vapors including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, coffee dust, allergens, alpha-diketones, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Adverse respiratory health outcomes such as respiratory symptoms, reduced pulmonary function, asthma, and obliterative bronchiolitis can occur among exposed workers. In response to health hazard evaluations requests received from 17 small- to medium-sized coffee facilities across the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted investigations during 2016-2017 to understand the burden of respiratory abnormalities, exposure characteristics, relationships between exposures and respiratory effects, and opportunities for exposure mitigation. Full-shift, task-based, and instantaneous personal and area air samples for diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione and other VOCs were collected, and engineering controls were evaluated. Medical evaluations included questionnaire, spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide. Exposure and health assessments were conducted using standardized tools and approaches, which enabled pooling data for aggregate analysis. The pooled data provided a larger population to better address the requestors' concern of the effect of exposure to alpha-diketones on the respiratory heath of coffee workers. This paper describes the rationale for the exposure and health assessment strategy, the approach used to achieve the study objectives, and its advantages and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jean M. Cox-Ganser
- Respiratory Health Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, United States
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Tompa E, Mofidi A, Song C, Arrandale V, Jardine KJ, Davies H, Tenkate T, Demers PA. Break-even Analysis of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Exposure Interventions in the Construction Sector. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 63:e792-e800. [PMID: 34739444 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated long-term economic impacts of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) removal interventions in the construction at the societal level. METHODS We estimated costs and benefits of two RCS exposure interventions, use of "respirators" and "wet method," over a 30-year time period. We identified economic impacts of the interventions under four different scenarios. RESULTS Under current practices, we estimated that approximately 125 lung cancer cases attributable to RCS exposure would arise in 2060. Under the full exposure removal scenario, we estimated there would be 53 new cases. Over the 30-year time period, the estimated cumulative averted cases are 787 and 482 for respirators and wet method, respectively, which amount to net benefits of $422.13 and $394.92 million. CONCLUSIONS Findings provide important information for policymakers seeking to reduce the economic burden of occupational lung cancer in society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile Tompa
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Tompa and Dr Mofidi); Department of Economics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Dr Tompa); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Tompa, Dr Arrandale, and Dr Demers); Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Arrandale, Dr Demers, Ms Jardine, and Mr Song); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Dr Davies); School of Occupational and Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Tenkate)
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