Evaluation and Comparison of Airborne Concentrations of Crystalline Silica and Total Respirable Dust in Refractory Brick Industries in Isfahan

Background and Objective: Inhalation of crystalline silica particles in the workplace can lead to occupational diseases, such as silicosis. This study aims to evaluate and compare airborne concentrations of crystalline silica and respirable dust in the refractory brick industries in Isfahan province. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the airborne concentrations of crystalline silica and respirable dust were measured among 79 workers from large industries and 30 workers from small refractory brick industries over a three-year period. Personal sampling was conducted using individual sampling pumps and cyclones. Data analysis was performed in SPSS 24 software using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: The results indicated that 65.1% of the samples exceeded the occupational exposure limits, while 34.9% were below the limits. There was no significant difference in the mean three-year airborne crystalline silica concentration between the two occupational groups (P=0.791). However, a significant difference was observed in the mean airborne respirable dust concentrations between the groups (P=0.002). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the implementation of safety, health, and environmental management systems has effectively reduced airborne crystalline silica and respirable dust concentrations, creating a safer work environment for employees.