Occupational Exposures in an Equestrian Centre to Respirable Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica. 2019

Kathleen Bulfin, and Hilary Cowie, and Karen S Galea, and Alison Connolly, and Marie Ann Coggins
Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, School of Physics and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 CF50 Galway, Ireland. kathleen.bulfin@gmail.com.

Sand-based products are regularly used as footing material on indoor equestrian arenas, creating a potential occupational exposure risk for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) for equestrian workers training and exercising horses in these environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate an equestrian worker's personal RCS and respirable dust (RD) exposure. Sixteen personal full-shift RD measurements were collected from an equestrian worker and analysed for RD, quartz and cristobalite. Geometric mean exposures of 0.12 mg m-3 and 0.02 mg m-3 were calculated for RD and RCS concentrations, respectively. RCS exposures of between 0.01 to 0.09 mg m-3 were measured on days when the indoor arena surface was not watered, compared to lower exposures (<LOD-0.03 mg m-3) on days when the indoor arena was watered (p < 0.01); however, manual watering is time intensive and less likely to be implemented in practice. This small-scale study provides new data on RCS and RD exposures among equestrian workers. RCS exposures are within the range considered to be associated with increased risk for lung cancer. The use of dust control solutions such as water suppression should be promoted for equestrian work in horse riding arenas. Equestrian workers need to receive occupational health training on the health risks associated with RCS exposure.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004391 Dust Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D006736 Horses Large, hoofed mammals of the family EQUIDAE. Horses are active day and night with most of the day spent seeking and consuming food. Feeding peaks occur in the early morning and late afternoon, and there are several daily periods of rest. Equus caballus,Equus przewalskii,Horse, Domestic,Domestic Horse,Domestic Horses,Horse,Horses, Domestic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000395 Air Pollutants, Occupational Toxic air-borne matter related to work performed They are usually produced by the specific nature of the occupation. Occupational Air Pollutants,Pollutants, Occupational Air
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012822 Silicon Dioxide Transparent, tasteless crystals found in nature as agate, amethyst, chalcedony, cristobalite, flint, sand, QUARTZ, and tridymite. The compound is insoluble in water or acids except hydrofluoric acid. Silica,Aerosil,Aerosil 380,Cristobalite,Quso G-32,Quso G32,Tridymite,380, Aerosil,Dioxide, Silicon,G32, Quso,Quso G 32
D016272 Occupational Health The promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health in the work environment. Employee Health,Industrial Health,Industrial Hygiene,Occupational Safety,Health, Industrial,Hygiene, Industrial,Safety, Occupational,Health, Employee,Health, Occupational
D016273 Occupational Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation. Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D019570 Inhalation Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents by inhaling them. Exposure, Inhalation,Exposures, Inhalation,Inhalation Exposures

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