Cement Dust Pollution- a Potential Health Hazard

Abstract

Cement is one of the seventeenth most polluting industries ranked by the Central Pollution Control Board of India. It is a major source of pollutants including particulate matter, NOX, SOX and CO2 gases. Cement dust contains a number of heavy metals as chromium, cobalt, nickel, lead and mercury which are hazardous to the environment, plants and animals and posing a threat to the human health with a high magnitude of the problem on the rise. Occupational and environmental exposure to cement dust causes various acute and chronic respiratory diseases viz. lung function impairment, restrictive lung disease, pneumoconiosis, acute ventilatory effects, chronic obstructive lung disease, acute respiratory symptoms and the most fatal-lung carcinoma. Countless ailments involving other systems as skin irritation conjunctivitis, headache, stomach ache, fatigue and carcinoma of the stomach and colon have also been encountered to a great extent. Strikingly, cardiovascular system has even not been spared. Worst consequences are significant reduction in life-expectancy owing to long term exposure to high levels of PM from the cement industries. The main portal of the entry of dust particles in the human body is inhalation by the respiratory tract. Aerodynamic diameter of the cement particles (0.05-5.0µm) makes it a potential health hazard, as they are respirable in size and reach lungs easily leading to occupational lung diseases. At present, combating cement dust pollution is a challenge for the mankind which can be minimized by the joint venture of cement industry management, workers and health officials; to implement the technical preventive measures as proper ventilation in the working areas and use of appropriate respiratory protective measures including dust preventive nose and mouth filters or masks and safety goggles. Installation of health care centres should be encouraged in the cement industries for decreasing the risk of occupational hazards.