Adverse effects of occupational exposure to titanium dioxide dust on workers' respiratory system and blood pressure

Objective To evaluate the adverse effects of titanium dioxide dust on respiratory system and blood pressure of occupationally exposed workers.

Methods Totally 114 occupationally exposed workers in a titanium dioxide production enterprises with sulfuric acid process were studied, while 162 workers without known occupational exposure were chosen as the references. The physical examinations, including measurement of pulmonary ventilation function and blood pressure, and nasopharynx examination, were given to the workers and the results were compared between these two groups.

Results The workers' exposure levels of titanium dioxide varied from 0.424 to 6.375 mg/m³ with average(1.494 ±1.005)mg/m³. The restrictive and mixed pulmonary ventilation abnormalities of exposed workers were 9.6% and 10.5%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the references (P < 0.05). The abnormality of blood pressure and the morbidity of chronic rhinitis of exposed workers were 28.1% and 50.9%, respectively, which were also significantly higher(P < 0.05). The morbidity of chronic pharyngitis of the exposed workers was 82.5% and there was no difference compared with the references.

Conclusion Long term and low exposure to titanium dioxide dust could cause pulmonary dysfunction, abnormality of blood pressure and chronic rhinitis. The enterprises should take more control measures against the dust hazards.