Iron-ore dust and its health impacts

Abstract

Different lung diseases including lung cancer are the major occupational diseases among the workers of iron ore dust. However, health hazards that arise due to exposures to the ore dust vary considerably due to its variable composition in different mines. Iron oxide and silica predominantly contribute to its toxicological properties. By intratracheal instillation in experimental animals, iron oxide exhibits low toxicity and much less inflammation and damage compared to crystalline silica. Carcinogenicity of iron oxide is found to be negative. Silica is the probable contributor of the elevated incidence of lung cancer among the iron ore dust-exposed workers. Epidemiological findings in different parts of the world due to this occupational hazard have also been discussed in this article. It has been concluded that iron ore dustexposed workers need to be examined periodically in order to determine early symptoms. Routine environmental monitoring and chemical composition evaluation of iron-ore dust are also recommended.