Cement dust factory

Vestbo J, Knudsen KM, Raffn E, et al Exposure to cement dust at a Portland cement factory and risk of cancer. Br J Ind Med 48 803-807, 1991... 

Many factories also produce other pollutants— solvent fumes, iron dust, cement dust and so on. 

Siracusa A, Forcina A, Volpi R, et al. 1988. An 11-year longitudinal study of the occupational dust exposure and lung function of polyvinyl chloride, cement and asbestos cement factory workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 14 181-188. 

Special attention was drawn to the difficulties encountered in meeting the BSA demands for improved lighting levels in their section of the factory and the provision of dedicated bus parks for their employees. Soon after production began it was found that the sodium silicate paint used to render the walls and ceiling dustproof was virtually useless, and expensive remedial measures were taken to repaint the whole quarry with a specially developed, highly reflective and dust-free cement-based finish. 

Besides accidential or suicidal ingestion, there is occupational exposure of some groups of employees in the production and processing of heavy metal ores, manufacturing and use of thallium, its alloys and compounds, and in certain cement factories from roasting pyrites and ingestion of dust from the electric filter (Schaller et al., 1980). Whereas the excretion level in urine from persons without known occupational contact with thallium was found to be lower than 1.1 mg Tl/kg creatinine, it significantly increases upon exposure. No influence of the age of the person examined and the duration of employment, as well as no influence of alcohol and nicotine consumption was noted. 

In unusual cases, such as in a court case involving Iowa farmers, local private interests may prefer continuation of what amounts to industrial pollution. In the case noted above, local farmers successfully challenged EPA sanctions against a cement factory the dust of which was polluting the air—but depositing free fertilizing chemicals on surrounding farmlands. 

Particular micro-climates can favour the development of galvanic corrosion of aluminium in contact with steel. This can be observed in humid zones, close to factories that emit a great deal of dust fertiliser plants, cement works, coal-fired power stations, etc. Experience shows that this situation, which is highly unfavourable for the resistance of materials, can be controlled to a large extent by suitable design and especially by frequent cleaning of accumulated dust. 

---