Original scientific paper
Cement workers' pneumoconiosis
D. Popović
; Medicinski fakultet, Institut za medicinu rada i radiološku zaštitu »Dr Dragomir Karajović«, Beograd, Srbija
Abstract
The existence of pneumoconiosis due to cement dust is still unclear and there are many controversial data in literature. A group of 53 cement workers was followed up over a 12-year period in order to detect radiological changes in the lungs. During this period the workers worked in the same factory and under identical working conditions. The number of dust particles per millilitre air was 5 000-14 OOO, the free silica content in raw material was 5%, and in the final product 1.85%. At the end of the follow-up period 19 workers (35.8%) showed the same radiological finding, and in 34 (64.2%) radiological changes progressed. Twelve patients who at the beginning of the study were in category 0/s remained in the same category at its end, 12 had the s/1s type of opacities, 12 s/p, one was s/p category 2 and one s/q. Out of 9 workers with an sis finding at the beginning of the study 6 were in the same category, one in s/s category 2, one in s/p and one in s/q at the end of the follow (ILO Classification 1980). Five workers varied from s/p to s/p category 2. The most frequent additional symbols were pt (46) and em (44). It is concluded that cement dust can produce mixed pneumoconiosis characterized both by irregular and rounded opacities. The rounded opacities are influenced by the free silica content in cement dust and irregular opacities by silicates. The name of »cement workers' pneumoconiosis« is suggested as the most appropriate for this type of radiological findings.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
157028
URI
Publication date:
11.4.1985.
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