Evaluation of Environmental and Respirable Dust in Air of Tile Industry in South Khorasan

Background & Aims of the Study: Dust is one of the detrimental factors in workplace oftile industry. Exposure to excessive amount of dust can create various hazards to theworkers. Therefore, the present study aimed to measure the concentration of environmentaland respirable dust in air of Birjand Niloofar tile Industry.Materials & Methods: In the present study, using personal and environmental samplingmethod, the concentration of total and respirable dust was measured. The concentration ofdust determined with gravimetric method.Results: Measurement of dust in Niloofar tile No. 1, 2 and 3 showed the highest level oftotal dust was in Niloofar tile No.2 in tile crusher station (120.71 mg/m3). The maximumamount of respirable dust found in the mentioned station in Niloofar tile No.2 (370.35mg/m3).Conclusions: The results showed among the three factories, Niloofar tile factory No. 3 hadthe lowest dust concentration and Niloofar tile factory No. 2 especially crusher station hadthe highest dust concentration. Therefore, prevention strategies should be considered instations with higher dust concentration regarding to reducing of exposure to high level ofdust.

Keywords:

Respirable Dust , EnvironmentalDust , Tile industries , Birjand