An Industrial Hygienist's Look at Respirable Concrete Dust
as a Silicosis Hazard in the Construction Industry

photo-3In the March 2002 issue of Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Kenneth D. Linch published the results of a study of silica exposure at construction sites. With a masters in occupational safety and health engineering and an undergraduate degree in mining engineering, Linch has been with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as an industrial hygienist for 17 years. He describes the construction sites study as a small-scale exploration project in which he had a personal interest. Nevertheless, the study highlights some interesting points about occupational silica exposure in dusty industries such as …