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Trends in Airborne Chrysotile Asbestos Fibre Concentrations in Asbestos Cement Manufacturing Factories in Zimbabwe from 1996 to 2016

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Mutetwa

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Dingani Moyo

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midland State University, Gweru 054, Zimbabwe
    Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo 029, Zimbabwe)

  • Derk Brouwer

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

Abstract

Zimbabwe has two major factories that have been manufacturing chrysotile asbestos cement products since the 1940s. Exposure monitoring of airborne fibres has been ongoing since the early 1990s. This study examines trends in personal exposure chrysotile asbestos fibre concentrations for the period 1996–2016. Close to 3000 historical personal exposure measurements extracted from paper records in the two factories were analysed for trends in exposure. Exposure over time was characterised according to three time periods and calendar years. Mean personal exposure chrysotile asbestos fibre concentrations generally showed a downward trend over the years in both factories. Exposure data showed that over the observed period 57% and 50% of mean personal exposure chrysotile asbestos fibre concentrations in the Harare and Bulawayo factories, respectively, were above the OEL, with overexposure being exhibited before 2008. Overall, personal exposure asbestos fibre concentrations in the factories dropped from 0.15 f/mL in 1996 to 0.05–0.06 f/mL in 2016—a decrease of 60–67%. These results can be used in future epidemiological studies, and in predicting the occurrence of asbestos-related diseases in Zimbabwe.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Mutetwa & Dingani Moyo & Derk Brouwer, 2021. "Trends in Airborne Chrysotile Asbestos Fibre Concentrations in Asbestos Cement Manufacturing Factories in Zimbabwe from 1996 to 2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10755-:d:655568
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