Working environment factors
How does dust affect workers’ health?
May
When mentioning dust in the workplace, we often simply think of it as airborne particles that hinder the work process and can cause respiratory diseases. However, reality raises a crucial question: How does dust affect the health of workers? And the answer is not as simple as we might think; dust is a significant cause of harm to human health.
Exposure to dust in the workplace can lead to many serious health problems, especially for those working in highly toxic industries. Let’s delve deeper into the effects of dust on worker health and the necessary safety measures that must be implemented to minimize these impacts.
1. What is Dust?
Dust consists of small solid particles, conventionally defined as particles with a diameter less than $100\mu \text{m}$, which settle under their own weight but can remain suspended in the air for a period of time. Dust often originates in places such as mines, enterprises, factories , etc., during crushing, grinding, material handling, as well as in agricultural and forestry work. The larger the particle size, the faster it settles.
Dust classification by origin:
- Organic Dust : Natural organic dust originates from plants and animals, molds, spores, etc. Artificial organic dust includes chemicals, synthetic substances, etc.
- Inorganic Dust : Mineral dust such as sand, rock, coal, etc. Metallic dust such as iron, aluminum, etc.
Dust classification by shape:
- Granular dust is dust with a spherical, polyhedral, or multi-angled shape.
- Fibrous dust is dust in the form of a long, straight, or curved rod, where the length is greater than or equal to 3 times the largest diameter (length:width $\ge$ 3:1).
- Fragmented dust is dust with a rod shape but the length is less than 3 times the largest diameter (length:width $<$ 3:1).
Classification by size (based on aerodynamic diameter):
- Total dust (or inhalable dust ) refers to small solid particles with a size range $\le 100\mu \text{m}$.
- Thoracic dust refers to particles with a size range $\le 10\mu \text{m}$, which can penetrate the upper respiratory tract and the large airways of the lungs.
- Respirable dust refers to particles with a size range $\le 5\mu \text{m}$, which have the ability to penetrate past the terminal bronchioles to the gas-exchange region of the lung (the alveoli).
2. Where does Dust Originate?
Dust can originate from many different sources. Some common sources of dust include:
- Dust can originate from soil, sand, rocks, plants, animals, and other natural resources.
- Dust can also originate from human activities such as: construction, road traffic, burning of waste, and agriculture.
- Dust can also be formed due to air pollution from various sources such as vehicle exhaust, industry, coal burning, etc.
Protecting the environment and minimizing dust generation is crucial for safeguarding human health and the living environment.
3. Occupations with Dust Factors Harmful to Workers
Dust containing free silica ($\text{SiO}_2$) causes the occupational disease silicosis , commonly found in occupations such as:
- Mining industry (coal, stone, etc.) because the ore or the earth/rock layers contain a high percentage of free silica.
- Mechanical engineering – metallurgy , especially in the casting profession (making molds, dismantling molds, cleaning castings, particularly sandblasting to clean castings). The sand used for cleaning contains a very high percentage of free silica.
- Other occupations such as pottery, glass, ceramics , etc., which use quartz and chamotte.
- It is also found in occupations using materials that contain silica, such as welding rods, paints, plastics, etc.
Lead dust is found in lead mining, ore processing, lead-containing scrap, battery manufacturing, paint, typecasting, etc.
Manganese dust is found in manganese mining, refractory material production, etc.
Asbestos dust is found in asbestos mining, manufacturing of insulation, fireproofing, acid resistance, electrical insulation, soundproofing materials, cement-asbestos roofing sheets, brake pads, asbestos paper, etc.
Cotton dust is found in cotton cultivation and harvesting, textile, yarn, and garment industries.
Other types of dust : many chemical mixtures and pesticides, found in industry, agriculture, and forestry:
- Vegetable and organic dust : such as rice flour, tea fluff, tobacco, pollen, etc., found in industry, forestry, and food processing industry.
- Biological dust : such as microorganisms, spores, molds, found in agriculture and forestry (cultivation, livestock farming).
4. How Dust Affects Worker Comfort
Dust can have many effects on workers’ health, impacting their comfort and work efficiency. Below are some effects of dust on worker health and comfort:
- Dust can irritate the respiratory tract and cause irritation, making workers feel short of breath, cough , etc.
- Airborne dust can be inhaled and travel deep into the lungs, causing pneumonia and respiratory problems.
- Dust can also irritate the eyes , causing tearing, redness, conjunctivitis, etc.
- Causes discomfort, lack of concentration , and unease while working.
Therefore, to protect the health and comfort of workers, managers need to ensure that the work environment is kept clean and well-ventilated , and that appropriate safety measures are taken to reduce dust dispersion.
5. Permissible Dust Exposure Levels in the Workplace
Assessment according to QCVN 02:2019/BYT National Technical Regulation on Dust – Permissible Exposure Limits for Dust in the Workplace :
- Permissible Exposure Limit for Asbestos Dust in the Workplace
Table 1. Maximum Permissible Exposure Limit for Asbestos Dust in the Workplace
Unit: fibers/mL
|
No. |
Substance Name | Work Shift Exposure Limit (TWA) |
|
1 |
Serpentine (chrysotile) |
0.1 |
|
2 |
Amphibole |
0 |
- Permissible Exposure Limit for Silica Dust in the Workplace
Table 2. Maximum Permissible Exposure Limit for Silica Dust in the Workplace
Unit: $\text{mg}/\text{m}^3$
|
No. |
Parameter |
Work Shift Exposure Limit (TWA) |
|
1 |
Free silica concentration in total dust |
0.3 |
| 2 |
Free silica concentration in respirable dust |
0.1 |
- Permissible Exposure Limit for Non-Silica Dust in the Workplace
Table 3. Maximum Permissible Exposure Limit for Non-Silica Dust in the Workplace
Unit: $\text{mg}/\text{m}^3$
|
Group |
Substance Name | Work Shift Exposure Limit (TWA) | |
| Total Dust |
Respirable Dust |
||
|
1 |
Talc, aluminum, bentonite, diatomite, pyrite, graphite, kaolin, activated carbon. |
2.0 | 1.0 |
|
2 |
Bakelite, iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, silicates, apatite, barite, phosphatite, limestone, perlite, marble, Portland cement |
4.0 |
2.0 |
|
3 |
Dust of vegetable and animal origin, tea, tobacco, grains, wood. |
6.0 |
3.0 |
| 4 |
Organic and inorganic dust not otherwise specified. |
8.0 |
4.0 |
- Permissible Exposure Limit for Cotton Dust in the Workplace
Table 4. Maximum Permissible Exposure Limit for Cotton Dust in the Workplace
Unit: $\text{mg}/\text{m}^3$
|
No. |
Substance Name | Work Shift Exposure Limit (TWA) |
| 1 |
Cotton dust |
1.0 |
- Permissible Exposure Limit for Coal Dust in the Workplace
Table 5. Maximum Permissible Exposure Limit for Coal Dust in the Workplace
Unit: $\text{mg}/\text{m}^3$
|
No. |
Parameter |
Work Shift Exposure Limit (TWA) |
Free Silica Content |
|
1 |
Total coal dust |
3.0 | Less than or equal to 5% |
|
2 |
Respirable coal dust |
2.0 |
-
- When the free silica content in coal dust is greater than 5%, the permissible exposure limit is regulated according to silica dust.
- The free silica content is determined in total dust, respirable dust, or settled dust.
6. What Diseases Result from Prolonged Exposure to Harmful Dust?
Prolonged exposure to harmful dust factors can lead to respiratory diseases such as:
- Pneumoconioses such as: silicosis , asbestosis , byssinosis (cotton dust). Other pneumoconioses that may occur include: coal worker’s pneumoconiosis in coal miners; berylliosis from beryllium exposure; kaolinosis from kaolin exposure; barytosis from barite exposure; stannosis from tin exposure; siderosis from iron oxide exposure; talcosis from talc dust exposure, etc.
- Systemic poisoning : Manganese, lead, cadmium, and their compounds enter the circulatory system and internal organs after dissolution, causing systemic poisoning.
- Particles in the air that can cause lung cancer after inhalation are: arsenic and its compounds, chromates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-containing particles, and certain types of nickel-containing dust. Asbestos fibers can cause bronchial cancer and mesothelioma .
- Irritation and inflammatory lung injuries : Airborne irritant particles include: cadmium fume (pneumonitis, pulmonary edema), beryllium (acute chemical pneumonitis), vanadium pentoxide, zinc chloride, boron hydrides, chromium compounds, manganese, cyanamide, dust or mist of some pesticides (pulmonary edema), fluorides, etc.
- Allergies and other hypersensitivity responses : Many vegetable dusts such as bagasse dust, horn, cotton, rice flour, jute, straw, tea, tobacco, wood, etc., are substances that can cause allergic reactions upon inhalation, leading to asthma, hay fever, or hives . The two main respiratory diseases classified as occupational contact allergies with particulate matter are occupational asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis .
- Metal fume fever is an illness caused by exposure to metal fumes generated under cool conditions, such as zinc and magnesium oxides.
- Infectious diseases where particles containing fungi, viruses, or bacterial pathogens can play a role in the transmission of infectious diseases.
- Pulmonary anthrax can be contracted by inhaling dust containing anthrax spores.
Harmful effects other than the respiratory tract that dust causes on workers’ health include:
- Skin and mucous membrane injuries : Skin irritation and dermatitis are common illnesses from dust exposure.
- Subcutaneous granulomas due to beryllium are found in workers cutting fluorescent tubes containing beryllium compounds.
- Skin cancer can arise from arsenic and arsenic compounds.
- Chromic acid mist can cause nasal septum perforation and “chrome holes” on the skin.
- Allergic skin reactions can arise from exposure to dust from certain plastics as well as some vegetable dusts like wood, fibers, jute, and bagasse. Exposure to some soluble dust can cause conjunctivitis .
- Dental erosion : Sulfuric acid mist is one of the substances that can cause dental erosion after prolonged exposure.
- Consequences after entering the skin and gastrointestinal tract can cause poisoning or cancer .
7. Measures to Mitigate the Effects of Dust on Worker Health
To minimize the impact of dust on workers’ health and comfort, several measures can be implemented:
- Ventilation and keeping the workspace airy : Ensuring that the air in the workspace is always ventilated and clean is one of the most important measures to reduce dust accumulation.
- Using personal protective equipment (PPE) : Devices such as masks, safety goggles, protective clothing , etc., can be used to minimize the impact on workers’ health.
- Measures such as using a dust extraction system and minimizing dust-generating activities can reduce dust dispersion.
- Worker Training: Workers need to be trained on health protection measures while working, so they can protect their own health when working in that environment.
- Periodically organizing work environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collecting and analyzing harmful factors to workers, and thereby adjusting to reduce the hazard level to prevent occupational diseases for them.
To mitigate the impact of dust on workers’ health, prevention and protection measures must be implemented, and safe work procedures must be followed fully and strictly.
8. National Work Environment Monitoring Center
Nam Viet’s Work Environment Monitoring Center is a professional unit specializing in the supervision and measurement of work environment quality across all provinces and cities in Vietnam . With a team of experienced monitoring specialists , the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR WORK ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICES
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also assists customers in planning, handling, and tracking work environment issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center focuses on customer satisfaction, meeting all customer needs, and is committed to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in technology, equipment, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has become one of the reputable units in the field of work environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following goals:
- We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
- We provide customers with the best and most suitable possible solutions.
- Together with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with the desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- Coming to the Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field. At the same time, you will receive the best cost benefits.
9. Quotation for Work Environment Monitoring
To help businesses conduct professional and effective work environment monitoring, Nam Viet provides customers with a quality and reasonably priced quotation table for work environment monitoring services .
- Our monitoring quotation provides detailed information about the prices of the monitoring services we offer. This includes costs related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting of results. Customers can be completely confident in the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring reports we provide.
- We are committed to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are always ready to quickly and professionally consult and answer any questions about monitoring services.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation, customers can easily choose the service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
