Abstract
Background: Fine dust is a major environmental concern for quarry mine workers. Exposure
to dust may result in different adverse health consequences, including respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases, silicosis, lung cancer, eye irritation, etc. The chemical components
of dust further exacerbate these health outcomes. Most studies on dust emissions conducted
by environmental scientists focus primarily on larger mining and manufacturing companies.
There is a dearth of information on stone quarry mines.
Objective: This cross-sectional study assessed respiratory symptoms associated with
exposure to dust among employees working at Patton Quarry Mine, Roodepoort
(Johannesburg).
Methods: The study was conducted between July 2023 and September 2023. EPI INFO
version 7.2 was used to determine the sample size. 150 participants working on mine were
assessed. In this research, questionnaires were administered to collect information on age,
gender, ethnicity, occupation, marital status, education level, period contracted at the quarry
mine, type of work at the quarry mine, environmental conditions, and prevalence of respiratory
symptoms. A logistic regression model and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the
data.
Results: The response rate-based questionnaires received and analysed were 93.3%. In
terms of demographics and age, 73% of respondents were in the 26–35 age group. Gender:
81.7% males, 15.7% females, and 2.6% diverse. English speakers constituted 27%, followed
by Zulu at 25.2%. 72.2% were Black Africans, 12.2% were Coloured, 10.4% were White and
5.2% were Indian. 60.9% of students did not complete matriculation, and 11.5% completed
tertiary education. 42.6% were single, and 39.1% were married. For religion, 80.9% are
Christian, 7.8% are Shembe, and 7.0% are Hindu. Lastly, general workers constituted 39.1%,
and operators (27.0%) were dominant. In terms of the prevalence of respiratory symptoms,
33.9% reported wheezing or whistling in the chest in the past 12 months. Approximately 46.1%
woke up with chest tightness, and 47% had coughing attacks. In the last 12 months, 49.6%
had asthma attacks. Additionally, 49.6% received a diagnosis of a respiratory disease, while
46.1% reported having nasal allergies. Use of protective clothing and equipment: limited use
of protective measures: 25% wore overalls or dustcoats, 20% used dust masks, and 18% wore
eye goggles. The study identified a significant prevalence of respiratory symptoms among
employees working at the Roodepoort quarry mine. Occupation emerged as a significant
factor associated with nasal allergies (aOR = 0.13, 95%).CI: 0.02-0.68, p=0.016), asthma
(aOR=0.04, 95% CI: 0.00-0.26, p<0.001), chest tightness (aOR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.02-0.52,
p=0.006), coughing (aOR=0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-
0.40, p=0.003), and wheezing among quarry mine workers (aOR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.76,
p=0.026). Mitigation Measures: The study revealed a concerning lack of adherence to
personal protective equipment (PPE) among quarry workers, with low utilisation rates of items
such as dust masks, goggles, and protective clothing. Despite a high level of awareness about
health risks, there was insufficient implementation of safety measures, posing significant
health hazards to workers.
Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the significant prevalence of respiratory
symptoms among employees working at the Roodepoort quarry mine, indicating the adverse
effects of occupational exposure to dust on respiratory health. Factors such as occupation
emerged as significant predictors of nasal allergies, asthma, chest tightness, coughing, and
wheezing among quarry workers. Furthermore, the study highlighted a concerning lack of
adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) among workers, emphasising the need for
improved workplace safety measures.
Key Concepts: Occupational Exposure, Dust, Respiratory Symptoms, Respiratory Disease
Prevalence, Inhalation, and Respiratory Disease.