Cancer and non-cancer risk assessment among sweepers exposed to crystalline silica in an iron ore mine in Iran

Abstract

Silica is the main component of more than 95% of known rocks. Continuous inhalation of dust containing crystalline silica can lead to various health issues, including respiratory disease, lung cancer, silicosis. Among occupations with high exposure to silica dust, mining is particularly significant. Therefore, this study, conducted in 2022, aimed to assess the risk of cancer and non-cancer diseases among sweepers exposed to crystalline silica dust. A total of 120 sweepers were selected as the exposed group and 120 office workers were selected as the control group. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) was sampled by plastic cyclones equipped with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filters and subsequently analyzed by a UV/VIS spectrophotometer. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks (CRs) were assessed using the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodology. The mean concentration of exposure to RCS in the sweeper group was higher than in the office group. The CR was classified as definite in 69.16% of the sweeper group and probable in 30.83%. In contrast, the CR in the office group was negligible. The non-CR (NCR) was found to be unacceptable for all of the sweepers. Therefore, both CR and NCR were high in the sweeper group, highlighting the necessary of implementing appropriate control measures to mitigate these risks.