Abstract:
Objectives In order to explore the risk of pneumoconiosis caused by desert dusts, the content, dispersion and soluble chemical components of free silica SiO2 (F) in desert dust in Hetian, Xinjiang was analyzed.
Methods The dust and original sand in the desert were collected 8 hours after sandstorms in the spring of 2012 and 2013. The content of SiO2 (F) in the dust was measured according to the "Method for the determination of dust in the air of workplace" (GB 5748-1985). The prevalence of pneumoconiosis in storm-prone areas was also investigated.
Results The residents in Xiangjiang Production and Construction Crops have been living in a high polluted environment, where the daily average content of SiO2(F)in the dust was up to 30%~40%. There were three pneumoconiosis patients and 3 patients suspect of pneumoconiosis discovered in 2012-2013, mainly in restrictive ventilatory dysfunction.
Conclusions The dust in the sandstorm in Hetian was high in SiO2 (F) and high dispersion. Respirable dust is a potential factor causing pulmonary fibrosis. The impairment of pulmonary ventilatory function was positively correlated with the time of dust exposure.
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