NIOSH states that grinding deteriorated mortar during tuckpointing creates airborne dust that may contain crystalline silica, and reports worker exposures up to 100 times the NIOSH recommended exposure limit. NIOSH links silica exposure to silicosis, lung cancer, kidney disease, and reduced lung function, and reports that a shrouded grinder connected to an industrial vacuum reduces exposure.
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Health effects and engineering controls · 2
Health effects and engineering controls · 2
The grinder breaks up the mortar and turns it into airborne dust that may contain crystalline silica. ... Workers who use grinders to remove deteriorated mortar between bricks may be exposed to crystalline silica at concentrations up to 100 times the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 50 µg/m3. Breathing dust that contains silica can lead to the development of silicosis ... exposure to crystalline silica has been linked to lung cancer, kidney disease, reduced lung function, and other disorders.