Occupational exposure to silicon dioxide and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in the cement manufacturing industries: A review

The aim of this review was to assess the association between occupational exposure to silicon dioxide and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in the cement manufacturing industries. Approximately 60 articles published from 2010 to 2021 were found and four independent reviewers extracted the data from each eligible study using PubMed, Google scholar etc. The following terms were used: exposure to cement dust, exposure to silicon dioxide etc. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were considered while searching for the studies. In this review, a total of 14 articles were included in this study. Chronic cough was the most prevalence exposure symptoms (OR 1.90; CI 9.90, 0.78), with wheezing reported to be the least experienced symptom (OR 1.34; CI 11.5, 0.50). Two studies reported exposure concentration ranging from 0.026 to 0.044 mg/m³, and 0.27 mg/m³ was also reported in one study. The FEV1 and FVC was lower in exposed workers when compared to the control group. Studies reported the crystalline silica quartz to be 21.5% in limestone, 22.5% in bauxite, 21.22% in clinker, and 21.22% in raw cement. Chronic cough, phlegm, wheezing, and shortness of breath or dyspnea was found to be significantly prevalence among workers, particularly cleaning personnel, in the cement manufacturing industries.