Citation

Ali S, Wightman R, Hack J. R. I. Med. J. (2013) 2019; 102(1): 55-57.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, and Division of Emergency Toxicology, Brown Emergency Medicine, 55 Claverick Street, Suite 100, Providence, RI.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Rhode Island Medical Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

30709077

Abstract

Cement is widely used in construction. Acute exposures with immediate sequelae have been infrequently described. This case report describes a man who developed multifocal pneumonitis with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDs) and respiratory failure one day after cement dust exposure. Chromium, cobalt, and nickel components in cement may cause pulmonary tissue irritation. Sand and gravel in cement may cause direct abrasive injury. Inhalation may cause direct thermal injury through an exothermic reaction. The silicon dioxide component has been shown to cause pulmonary injury through cytokine-mediated inflammation. Cement batches for smaller-scale construction jobs are often mixed onsite increasing exposure risk. Implementation of personal protective equipment has been shown to reduce respiratory symptoms among cement workers, underscoring the need for occupational health standards and further research. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2019-02.asp].

Language: en

Keywords

acute; cement; exposure; failure; respiratory