Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica

"Occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica are associated with the development of silicosis, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and airways diseases. These exposures may also be related to the development of autoimmune disorders, chronic renal disease, and other adverse health e...

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Main Author: USA. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Institution:ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
Format: TEXT
Language:English
Published: Cincinnati 2002
NIOSH
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19290296124910184789-Health-effects-of-occupational.htm
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author USA. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
author_facet USA. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
collection Library items
description "Occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica are associated with the development of silicosis, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and airways diseases. These exposures may also be related to the development of autoimmune disorders, chronic renal disease, and other adverse health effects. Recent epidemiologic studies demonstrate that workers have a significant risk of developing chronic silicosis when they are exposed to respirable crystalline silica over a working lifetime at the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) PEL, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit (REL). This NIOSH Hazard Review: - examines the health risks and diseases associated with occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica, - discusses important findings of recent epidemiologic studies, - provides the reader with sources of more comprehensive information about health effects and experimental studies - describes current sampling and analytical methods and their limitations for assessing occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica, and - suggests many areas for further research. Current sampling and analytical methods used to evaluate occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica do not meet the accuracy criterion needed to quantify exposures at concentrations below the NIOSH REL of 0.05 mg/m3 as a time-weighted average (TWA) for up to a 10-hr workday during a 40-hr workweek. Until improved sampling and analytical methods are developed for respirable crystalline silica, NIOSH will continue to recommend an exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3 to reduce the risk of developing silicosis, lung cancer, and other adverse health effects. NIOSH also recommends minimizing the risk of illness that remains for workers exposed at the REL by substituting less hazardous materials for crystalline silica when feasible, by using appropriate respiratory protection when source controls cannot keep exposures below the NIOSH REL, and by making medical examinations available to exposed workers."
format TEXT
geographic USA
id 19290296124910184789_9479531af56947ee8d88bdbda469f7c7
institution ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
is_hierarchy_id 19290296124910184789_9479531af56947ee8d88bdbda469f7c7
is_hierarchy_title Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica
language English
physical 127 p.
Paper
publishDate 2002
publisher Cincinnati
NIOSH
spellingShingle USA. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
epidemiologic study
exposure
exposure assessment
health impact assessment
lung cancer
medical surveillance
sampling and analysis
crystalline silica
silicosis
threshold limit values
Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica
title Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica
topic epidemiologic study
exposure
exposure assessment
health impact assessment
lung cancer
medical surveillance
sampling and analysis
crystalline silica
silicosis
threshold limit values
url https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19290296124910184789-Health-effects-of-occupational.htm