Silicosis Among Gold Miners in Ecuador: A Present Problem

Details

• Personal Author:
  Harari R ; Herrera D ; Parker, John E.
• Description:
  Silicosis is well recognized as an occupational disease all over the world. In Ecuador, only a few reports about silicosis have been known, in most cases related to a low number of miners compensated or to some workers in quarries. Two hundred and sixty gold miners heavily exposed to silica dust have been studied with PRODEMINCA (Programa de Desarrollo Minero y Control Ambiental-Ministerio de Energia Minas del Ecuador) support, in four mining areas in the south of Ecuador. Dust was tested to verify SiO, content and total and respirable dust was measured in some spot samples. Miners perform different activities such as drilling, transportation and milling. A standardized questionnaire was used and chest X-ray and lung function tests were performed on all of them. A Prevalence Rate=10.76 of silicosis was reported among this group. Spirometry did not show changes associated with silicosis, although there were sub-groups with FEV1, CV and Tiffeneau indicating obstructive lung diseases. Implementation of preventive measures is suggested to avoid the presence of silicosis among gold miners in Ecuador. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aluminum Silicates Epidemiology Hazardous Substances Irritants Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide

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• Keywords:
  Exposure-limits Health-hazards Lung-disease Lung-disorders Lung-irritants Mine-workers Miners Mining-industry Occupational-exposure Occupational-hazards Occupational-respiratory-disease Pulmonary-disorders Pulmonary-function Pulmonary-system-disorders Quarry-workers Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Silica-dusts Silicates Silicosis

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• ISSN:
  0025-7818
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings ; Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  93
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20027162
• Citation:
  Med Lav 2002 Oct; 93(Suppl):S70
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  La Medicina del Lavoro. 3rd International Symposium on Silica, Silicosis, Cancer and Other Diseases, S. Margherita Ligure, 21-25 October 2002
• Supplement:
  Suppl
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f5812bd920f520c8a565f2af62754cd9dd45ec8462c2834cfd853731c9a85e0930eeed20173e24a463ae2a6cac24435cc8da413d314b53a95fa038ed1f0717e8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197487/cdc_197487_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 235.87 KB ]