User:Kayleeab/Occupational dust exposure

Steel Industry
According to the Worldsteel Association, the steel industry employs more than 6 million people worldwide. China in 2018, reported being the world's largest producer of steel with 928.3 million tons of steel produced. Steel is a versatile material, the uses range from the automotive industry to the medical industry. Almost every aspect of our lives involves the use of steel in some form. Steel is mostly made up of iron, less than 2% carbon and 1% manganese, there are also small traces of silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and oxygen found in steel as well.

With more than 6 million people working in the steel industry around the world, these employees have the potential to be exposed to particulate matter from the dust. As the dust from the steel manufacturing of these products are done indoors which can lead to the buildup of dust. An increase of dust levels have have negative health effects on the employees as found in their serum protein levels, respiratory, and airway health. Welders, for example, are one of the many steel workers exposed to dust or particles from the steel industry. Since steel is composed of manganese, and steel workers have been found to be exposed to high levels of particles containing manganese and if manganese is found at high levels of exposure, can be neurotoxic to the individual(s). The buildup of these particles can accumulate in the brain and produce symptoms such as tremors, body rigidness, reduces the sense of smell and impairs motor function as well as balance. Alzheimer's disease has also been found to be a result of exposure to high levels of manganese. It has been found that welders exposed to dust via respiration have had serum level changes which relate to neurologic disease. Although, no link to Alzheimer's in welders has been found. An increase in 5 neurology-related proteins were found (GCSF, EFNA4, CTSS, CLM6, VEC2) in welder's blood. Constant changes in neurology-related proteins could result in an increased risk for future disease.

Long term exposure to dust particles containing metallic compounds have been found to impair pulmonary surfactant and lung function which then results in chronic respiratory diseases. There have also been findings of eye irritation from the dust in steel manufacturing. The following preemptive measures can be taken to reduced ones exposure to dust particulates; increasing the ventilation systems inside the industries, wearing personal protective gear such as eyeglasses and masks as well as, washing hands to prevent other dermal or intestinal exposures.