A NIOSH-indexed respiratory-health program reported significant decrements in FEV1 among workers exposed for more than 20 years to high concentrations of bauxite or alumina dust.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: A comprehensive program for improved management of respiratory health ↗Dust entry
Bauxite and alumina dust
Mineral dust generated during bauxite and alumina handling and processing.
Airborne form
dust
The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.
Health effects
reduced FEV1chronic respiratory impairment concernmineral-dust exposure concernairway irritation
Evidence
NIOSH reported no serious health hazard from the evaluated excessive alumina exposure at the time of the survey, while noting that long-term silica exposure can lead to silicosis and that the absence of current symptoms does not rule out future disease if concentrations exceed the standard.
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page 6 · Medical Evaluation; Toxicity Determination · D–E
page 6 · Medical Evaluation; Toxicity Determination · D–E
No serious health hazard is thought to exist from the excessive exposure to alumina dust, but levels should be maintained below the nuisance dust standard. None of the workers exposed to sinter dust (thought to contain trace quantities of crystalline silica) reported any respiratory problems which one would expect from exposure to silica. The development of silicosis requires exposure to silica over a period of many years. Thus, the absence of respiratory symptoms at this time does not necessarily preclude its possible development in the future if the environment produces silica air concentrations which exceed the Federal standard.
Controls
- enclosed mineral handling
- local exhaust ventilation
- dust collection
- exposure monitoring
- medical surveillance
- appropriate respiratory protection