Occupational health hazards secondary to inhaled dust particles in cement industry

Data on respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function and x-ray chest were obtained for 130 exposed cement workers to evaluate and early detect the effect of exposure to dust among workers in Assiut Cement Factory. Dust samples were collected at different work places in the factory, measuring a mean SiO[2] concentration of 10.5 mg/m[3]- Cough, dyspnea and wheezes increased with age and time intensity factor. Assessment of the pulmonary function tests among the studied workers revealed that 10 percent had normal functions, 50.8 percent had restrictive, 20 percent had obstructive and 19.2 percent had combined obstructive and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction. X-ray chest revealed 11 silicotic patients comprising a prevalence of 8.5 percent. Silicosis was significantly related to time intensity factor

Immunological aspects of workers exposed to silica in Egyptian cement industry

The effect of cement dust exposure for different durations on cellular [T-lymphocytes: count and function, B-lymphocyte count and monocyte function] and humoral [serum level of IgA, IgG and IgM, total hemolytic complement activity, level of circulating immune complexes and serum antinuclear antibody] immunities was studied in 45 subjects exposed to cement dust for less than three years [group 1, 15 subjects], five to ten years [group 2, 15 subjects] and more than ten years [group 3, 15 subjects] and in 15 normal subjects as controls. The obtained results were presented in details