Analyzing the Impacts of Soapstone Dust on Respiratory System of Mine Workers Through Structural Equation Modelling Technique: A Case Study of Sherwan Soapstone Mines, Abbottabad, Pakistan

Dust produced in mining has a substantial impact on worker’s health resulting in severe respiratory diseases. Researchers mainly focused on the dust problems faced in surface mining whereas the dust produced in underground soapstone mines has received comparatively less attention. This study evaluates self-reported respiratory symptoms and medical examinations of underground mine workers in soapstone mines. It establishes a relationship between the respiratory illness factors and its symptoms, providing new insight into the analysis. Demographic and other respiratory symptoms-related data is collected through questionnaires from underground soapstone mine workers, located in the Abbottabad area, with medical data from 60 of these workers obtained through medical examinations. The collected data is subsequently analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling and regression analysis to investigate the relationship between the evaluated factors in the dust analysis. The dust assessment shows that it is primarily composed of silica, with small particle sizes that are smaller than the threshold limit value and pose a risk of silicosis. The questionnaire data indicates that about 75% of workers exhibit symptoms of respiratory diseases, the majority of them are laborers and old age workers whereas the medical examinations revealed that 80% of workers are affected by lung infections. The Structural Equation Modelling demonstrates that dust inhalation has a stronger effect on symptom occurrence (β = 0.485, p < 0.001) compared to dust severity (β = 0.207, p < 0.05). These results are concerning and underscore the need for interventions, and the adoption of adequate respiratory protection measures for safeguarding the health of workers.