ield tests were conducted to measure the effects of high concentrations of cement dust on the penetration and pressure drop of N95 electret respirator filters from two manufacturers. Three groups of each manufacturer’s filter were tested: 1) untreated; 2) irradiated with ionizing radiation; 3) dipped in isopropanol for 15 seconds. The purpose of the irradiation and isopropanol treatments was to...

This study aims to determine the major elements of Portland cement type I and II (CEMI and CEMII) in a cement factory in north Tunisia and which metal elements are introduced into the production process. We determine also the metal input rate and their distribution at the entrance and exit of the process. The major elements were analyzed and the trace elements (Arsenic, barium, lead, mercur...

BACKGROUND Few studies have been carried out on acute effects of cement dust exposure. This study is conducted to investigate the associations between current "total" dust exposure and acute respiratory symptoms and respiratory function among cement factory workers. METHODS A combined cross-sectional and cross-shift study was conducted in Dire Dawa cement factory in Ethiopia. 40 exposed produ...

Exposure to Portland cement dust has long been associated with the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and varying degrees of airway obstruction in man. Apart from respiratory diseases, it was also found to be the cause of lung and laryngeal cancer, gastrointestinal tumours and also dermatitis. This study was done to investigate the effect of dust exposure on ventilatory lung function of Portlan...

OBJECTIVES This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the effects of exposure to cement dust on Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in non-smoking cement mill workers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We recruited 121 apparently healthy male volunteers, 90 of them were non-smoking cement mill workers and 31 non-smoking un-exposed subjects served as control. The mean age of cement mill workers was 3...

This study was conducted to isolate an acid-producing, alkaliphilic bacterium to reduce the alkalinity of cement industry waste (cement kiln dust). Gram-positive isolate KG1 grew well at pH values of 6-12, temperatures of 28-50°C, and NaCl concentrations of 0-16% and thus was further screened for its potential to reduce the pH of an alkaline medium. Phenotypic characteristics of the KG1 isolate...

Dust exposure levels were studied in a cement factory in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as part of an epidemiological study assessing chronic respiratory health effects. One hundred and twenty personal 'total' dust samples were collected from 80 randomly selected workers from eight a priori occupational groups (OGs) based on work areas using a 37 mm Millipore sampler. The between-group, within-group ...

BACKGROUND A recent study demonstrates that inhalation of airborne particulate from Mount Etna eruptions may induce fibrotic lung disease. The occupational exposure of construction workers from the Etna area, who excavate building sites and use basalt dust to make mortar, has never been assessed. METHODS Samples of basalt, volcanic ash, basalt + cement and cement dust were collected on the co...