McLean David, Glass Bill, 't Mannetje Andrea, Douwes Jeroen
Senior Research Officer, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University.
Professorial Research Fellow, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University and Departmental Medical Practitioner, WorkSafe New Zealand.
N Z Med J. 2017 Dec 1;130(1466):78-82.
To assess personal exposure to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in New Zealand construction workers.
In a pilot study, 39 personal samples were collected from a cross-section of workers engaged in a range of tasks performed on construction sites that were expected to entail exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Nine static samples were taken at locations adjacent to these tasks. Particle size-selective sampling heads were used to collect the respirable fraction of airborne particulates. Dust concentrations were determined gravimetrically, while crystalline silica was analysed using x-ray diffraction.
Almost half of the personal crystalline silica samples exceeded the New Zealand Workplace Exposure Standard (NZ WES), while 56% exceeded the more stringent international recommendation (ACGIH TLV). The tasks associated with the highest RCS levels were concrete grinding and cutting. Two of four static samples collected close to (silica-containing) Linea board cutting exceeded the ACGIH TLV for RCS, indicating the potential for bystander exposure.
A large proportion of workers performing common tasks in the construction industry may be exposed to levels of respirable dust and crystalline silica exceeding national standards and international recommendations. These results suggest that workers in this industry may be at risk of developing silica-related diseases, including silicosis, lung cancer, COPD and chronic renal disease. Action is required to improve dust control to reduce silica exposure and the associated health risks.
评估新西兰建筑工人可吸入粉尘和可吸入结晶二氧化硅（RCS）的个人暴露情况。
在一项试点研究中，从从事一系列预计会接触可吸入结晶二氧化硅的建筑施工现场工作的工人中随机抽取39份个人样本。在这些工作任务附近的地点采集了9份静态样本。使用粒径选择性采样头收集空气中颗粒物的可吸入部分。通过重量法测定粉尘浓度，同时使用X射线衍射分析结晶二氧化硅。
几乎一半的个人结晶二氧化硅样本超过了新西兰工作场所暴露标准（NZ WES），而56%的样本超过了更为严格的国际建议（美国政府工业卫生学家会议阈限值，ACGIH TLV）。与最高RCS水平相关的任务是混凝土研磨和切割。在靠近（含二氧化硅的）Linea板切割处采集的四个静态样本中有两个超过了ACGIH TLV的RCS标准，表明存在旁观者暴露的可能性。
建筑行业中很大一部分从事常见任务的工人可能接触到超过国家标准和国际建议水平的可吸入粉尘和结晶二氧化硅。这些结果表明，该行业的工人可能有患与二氧化硅相关疾病的风险，包括矽肺、肺癌、慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）和慢性肾病。需要采取行动改善粉尘控制，以减少二氧化硅暴露及相关健康风险。
