Respirable dust and crystalline silica concentrations among workers at a brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Abstract

Exposure to respirable dust and crystalline silica (SiO₂) has been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, cancer, heart disease, and other respiratory diseases. Relatively few studies have measured respirable dust and SiO₂ concentrations among workers at brick kilns in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to measure personal breathing zone (PBZ) respirable dust and SiO₂ concentrations among workers at one brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 workers in five job categories: administration, fire master, green (unfired) brick hand molder, green brick machine molder, and top loader. PBZ air samples were collected from each worker following Methods 0600 (respirable dust) and 7500 (respirable crystalline SiO₂: cristobalite, quartz, tridymite) of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) respirable dust and quartz concentrations were also calculated. SiO₂ percentage was measured in one bulk sample each of wet clay, the release agent used by green brick hand molders, and top coat soil at the brick kiln. The geometric mean (GM) sample and TWA respirable dust concentrations were 0.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.27) and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.16) mg/m³, respectively. GM sample and TWA quartz concentrations were 15.28 (95% CI: 11.11, 21.02) and 8.60 (95% CI: 5.99, 12.34) µg/m³, respectively. Job category was significantly associated with GM sample and TWA respirable dust and quartz concentrations (all p < 0.0001). Top loaders had the highest GM sample and TWA respirable dust concentrations of 1.49 and 0.99 mg/m³, respectively. Top loaders also had the highest GM sample and TWA quartz concentrations of 173.08 and 114.39 µg/m³, respectively. Quartz percentages in bulk samples were 16%-27%. Interventions including using wet methods to reduce dust generation, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and education and training should be implemented to reduce brick kiln worker exposures to respirable dust and SiO₂.

Keywords:

• Air quality
• brick worker
• exposure assessment
• international occupational health

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the brick kiln management and supervisors, the brick kiln workers, and their guides and interpreters.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, JDB, upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under award number T42OH008414 through the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health of the University of Utah, BYU’s Simmons Research Endowment, a John A. Widtsoe Innovative Research Grant from BYU, the Roger and Victoria Sant Educational Endowment for a Sustainable Environment managed by BYU’s College of Life Sciences, and College Undergraduate Research Awards from BYU’s College of Life Sciences.