Short communication, Note
Medical and technological aspects associated with an outbreak of silicosis among the workers of the »Prvomajska« smelting works
A. Krpan
; Zdravstvena stanica »Prvomajska«, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Basic data concerning a smelting works in Zagreb are presented and the working conditions are described. The appearance of silicosis among the workers is dealt with in chronological order. The first two cases of the disease were discovered in 1973. In 1977, when regular medical check-ups were introduced, another 14 cases were identified. The appearance of silicosis is analysed in relation to the workplace and duration of exposure to dust. The relevance of workers' exposure to the sand dust which contains allotropic modifications of quartz as a result of sand regeneration at 1200 °C is discussed in respect to the rate of the disease. Namely, some modifications, like cristobalite, are known to be very active biologically. It is stressed that reusage of quartz sand following its regeneration from smelters' casts in addition to inducing changes in sand quality may increase appreciably the concentration of respirable dust in the working environment.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
155204
URI
Publication date:
29.7.1986.
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