What is it about?
Denim sand blasting is a profession that workers spray large amounts of sand onto jeans to wear out the color. If necessary measures are not taken, the workers can be exposed to large amounts of sand dust that can lead to deadly slicosis. Denim sand blasting silicosis was first described in Turkey, where many workers suffered from that form of silicosis. Although denim sand blasting is banned in Turkey, there are signs that this business moved to Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This editorial is explaining the scale of the problem and the measures to be taken.
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Why is it important?
Denim sand blasting is very risky for workers who perform this job.
Perspectives
All physicians should find this avoidable disease and loss of human life among jeans sandblasters both saddening and objectionable. The pulmonary medical community must remain attentive to concerns among workers regarding the recognition, reporting, and response to hazardous inhalational exposures. This will require our involvement in efforts of education and prevention within the regulatory and political fields.
Hasan Bayram
Koc University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Killer Jeans and Silicosis, American Review of Respiratory Disease, December 2011, American Thoracic Society,
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201108-1440ed.
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