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Ann. occup. Hyg., Vol. 46, No. suppl_1, pp. 71-76, 2002
© 2002 British Occupational Hygiene Society
Published by Oxford University Press

Pneumoconiosis and Exposure to Quartz-Containing Dust in the Construction Industry

E. Tjoe Nij1,*, P. Borm2, D. Höhr2 and D. Heederik1

1 Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University PO Box 80176, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
2 Department of Particle Toxicology, Institute for Environmental Medicine PO Box 103751, D-40028 Düsseldorf, Germany

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Construction workers are potentially at risk for pneumoconiosis due to exposure to high levels of quartz-containing dust. Studies on quartz and dust exposure in the construction industry are scarce and little is known about the toxic potency. An additional problem is the potential heterogeneity of the toxic potency due to differences in materials used in this industry. In this study we have made an attempt to characterize dust and quartz exposure as part of a cross-sectional study on pneumoconiosis among construction workers. Construction workers (n = 1335) were studied for quartz dust-related radiographic abnormalities and lung function changes. Full shift personal respirable exposure measurements (n = 68) were performed for certain job titles included in the cross-sectional study. For a more precise characterization of the dust, several samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. A mixed dust type of pneumoconiosis (ILO category ≥1/1, irregular opacities) was observed in 2.9% of the construction workers studied. Exposure measurements showed quartz levels between 0.002 and 3.77 mg/m3. SEM analysis showed that most particles consisted of silica and that dusts sampled during different tasks had different size distributions. In all samples, particle size ranged from 200–300 nm to 5–10 mm. The risk for pneumoconiosis among construction workers is evident, but a clear-cut exposure Cresponse relationship is hard to define because of heterogeneity in dust exposure levels, heterogeneity in composition of the dusts and possible modification of the toxicity of quartz by other factors present in the dusts.

construction industry • exposure • pneumoconiosis • quartz • SEM


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 Occup. Environ. Med.Home page
E Tjoe Nij, A Burdorf, J Parker, M Attfield, C van Duivenbooden, and D Heederik
Radiographic abnormalities among construction workers exposed to quartz containing dust
Occup. Environ. Med., June 1, 2003; 60(6): 410 - 417.
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