On the issue of assessing the occupational risk of diseases of dust aetiology

Abstract

Introduction. In the Russian Federation, occupational diseases associated with exposure to industrial aerosols occupy third place in the structure of occupational pathology. The predominant forms of occupational diseases included chronic dust bronchitis, pneumoconiosis( silicosis), chronic obstructive (asthmatic) bronchitis. For an objective assessment of dust exposure and calculation of the occupational health risk of employees of “dust” professions, it is advisable to clarify the criteria and methodology for assessing dust exposure as an independent and informative hygienic characteristic. The purpose of the study is to formulate additional criteria for assessing the risk of exposure to industrial aerosol; to substantiate the methodology for calculating the accumulation of dust particles in the lungs as an informative characteristic of inhaled dust that is subject to hygienic assessment when calculating the dust load, to clarify the methodology for managing the health risk of dust professions workers. Material and methods. The paper uses the technique of mathematical modelling. The calculation of the time of finding dust particles, taking into account their dispersion in various parts of the tracheobronchial tree, was carried out. Results. Taking into account the methodology for calculating the dust exposure by the value of the inhaled dust mass, additional criteria for assessing the hazard of exposure to industrial aerosol were formulated; the methodology for calculating the accumulated dust mass (ADM) was justified, the formation of ADM in tracheobronchial tree sites was estimated, taking into account the time dependence of the removal of dust particles of various dispersities from the tracheobronchial tree was estimated. The results of the study contribute to the improvement of hygienic criteria for the danger and harmfulness of working conditions according to the dust factor, the justification of preventive measures. Conclusions. The choice of the ADM index to clarify the information content of the calculated dust load value is justified. Improving the methodology of dust control helps to preserve employees’ health and reduce the level of occupational and production-related diseases.