Ramotsehoa Motsehoa Cynthia, Eloff Frederik Christoffel, du Plessis Johannes Lodewykus, Wright Caradee Yael, du Preez David Jean
Occupational Hygiene & Health Research Initiative, Faculty of Health Sciences, North‑West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Environmnetal and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Pretoria, South Africa.
Ann Glob Health. 2024 Nov 27;90(1):73. doi: 10.5334/aogh.4490. eCollection 2024.
The lack of information on exposure of opencast mineworkers to solar ultraviolet radiation, a group I carcinogen, was addressed. The feasibility of using electronic dosimeters in the determination of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation was investigated. The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of measuring the occupational exposure of opencast mineworkers to solar ultraviolet radiation using electronic dosimeters. The study followed a cross‑sectional design. Measurements were carried out at two opencast diamond mining operations hereafter referred to as site A and B, located in the Karas region of Namibia. Workers from all four outdoor occupations (bedrock, engineering, metallurgy and security) were recruited to participate in the study. The study was conducted over four days at each site during winter (site A: 28 June to 4 July 2018 and site B: 6-11 July 2018) in the Karas region of Namibia with 28 consenting workers taking part. The AlGaN photodiode‑based electronic dosimeters were worn above clothing on the dorsal wrists (one) and two placed on the horizontal, unshaded area from 08:00 to 16:00 for the measurement of personal and ambient solar ultraviolet radiation, respectively. Historical meteorological data for the measurement period were obtained from Solcast and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NASA. Overall, clear skies and surface reflectivity of 0.19 were observed for both study sites. The mean ultraviolet indices were 2.43 (0.06-4.51) and 2.24 (0.09-4.88) for site A and B, respectively. Findings of valid measurements from nine participants showed the mean total daily personal solar ultraviolet radiation exposure of 1.9 ± 1.0 (1.01-1.57) standard erythemal dose (SED) for site A and 3.4 ± 2.6 (3.39-7.28) SED for site B. Personal solar ultraviolet radiation exposure above the occupational exposure limit (OEL) demonstrated the need to include the winter season in planning for protective measures for skin and eyes, since workers are at risk of excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.
本研究探讨了露天矿工人暴露于太阳紫外线辐射（一种I类致癌物）的相关信息缺失问题。研究了使用电子剂量计测定太阳紫外线辐射暴露的可行性。本研究的目的是确定使用电子剂量计测量露天矿工人太阳紫外线职业暴露的可行性。该研究采用横断面设计。测量在纳米比亚卡拉斯地区的两个露天钻石矿场（以下简称A矿场和B矿场）进行。招募了所有四个户外职业（基岩开采、工程、冶金和安保）的工人参与研究。在纳米比亚卡拉斯地区的冬季，每个矿场进行为期四天的研究（A矿场：2018年6月28日至7月4日；B矿场：2018年7月6日至11日），共有28名同意参与的工人参加。基于AlGaN光电二极管的电子剂量计佩戴在衣服上方的背部手腕处（一个），另外两个放置在水平、无遮挡区域，分别于08:00至16:00测量个人和环境太阳紫外线辐射。测量期间的历史气象数据来自Solcast和美国国家航空航天局的臭氧监测仪器（OMI）。总体而言，两个研究地点均观测到晴空和0.19的地表反射率。A矿场和B矿场的平均紫外线指数分别为2.43（0.06 - 4.51）和2.24（0.09 - 4.88）。九名参与者的有效测量结果显示，A矿场个人每日太阳紫外线辐射总暴露量平均为1.9±1.0（1.01 - 1.57）标准红斑剂量（SED），B矿场为3.4±2.6（3.39 - 7.28）SED。个人太阳紫外线辐射暴露超过职业暴露限值（OEL）表明，在制定皮肤和眼睛防护措施计划时需要将冬季纳入考虑范围，因为工人面临太阳紫外线辐射过度暴露的风险。
