Occupational exposure to crystalline silica in a sample of the French general population
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Published:2024-01-31
Issue:1
Volume:19
Page:
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ISSN:1745-6673
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Container-title:Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:J Occup Med Toxicol
Author:
Wardyn Pierre-Marie,Edme Jean-Louis,de Broucker Virginie,Cherot-Kornobis Nathalie,Ringeval David,Amouyel Philippe,Sobaszek Annie,Dauchet Luc,Hulo Sébastien
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
To describe the proportions of subjects exposed to crystalline silica and the sectors of activity concerned between 1965 and 2010 in a sample of the general French population.
Methods
We included 2942 participants aged 40 to 65 years, recruited at random from electoral rolls, from the French general population in the cross-sectional ELISABET study between 2011 and 2013. The proportions of subjects exposed to crystalline silica and their sectors of activity were determined on the basis of their career history and the use of the Matgéné job-exposure matrix.
Results
In the total sample, occupational exposure to crystalline silica was found for 291 subjects (9.9%) between 1965 and 2010, with a predominance of men (20.2% of exposed subjects among men (282 out of 1394) versus 0.6% among women (9 out of 1548)). The highest proportion of participants exposed to crystalline silica was reached in 1980 with 6.1% and then decreases to 4.4% in 2010. Among men, the most frequently exposed sectors of activity were manufacture of basic metals (41.5% of exposed men (117 out of 282)), specialised construction activities (23.1% of exposed men (65 out of 282)) and construction of buildings (14.2% of exposed men (40 out of 282)).
Conclusions
Although the proportion of workers exposed to crystalline silica has been decreasing since the 1980s, it is still significant at least until 2010, particularly in the construction sector, and further research is needed to improve the monitoring of workers who are or have been exposed to crystalline silica.
Funder
European Regional Development Fund
Agence Nationale de la Recherche
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Safety Research,Toxicology
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