The risks of quartz dust and possible protective measures
Quartz dust can be particularly dangerous for the health of construction workers. But even those who install quartz composite worktops, for example, should be careful. What are the risks for those who work with materials containing quartz and how can you protect them?
What is quartz dust and why is it dangerous?
Quartz is a mineral that makes up 12% of our earth’s crust. It is an important constituent of sand and various stony materials, such as concrete and brick, as well as artificial stone, such as quartz composite.
Quartz dust is released when processing – e.g. sawing, sanding and milling – these materials. And that poses a serious risk: those who inhale the dust particles can develop dust lung and, in time, even lung cancer.
The number of deaths from lung cancer linked to quartz dust in the EU in 2010.
Source: EU/IOM
Quartz dust falls into the highest risk group of carcinogenic substances according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. That is the same category as asbestos, for example.
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How is quartz dust released and who is at risk?
It’s not only construction workers, but also, for example, contractors who install worktops in kitchens and bathrooms. After all, these worktops increasingly consist of quartz composite, which can contain more than 95% quartz.
These are some commonly used materials and their quartz content:
| Material | Quartz % |
|---|---|---|
1. | Quartz composite | > 95% |
2. | Quartzite | > 95% |
3. | Sand | > 90% |
4. | Sandstone | 50 - 90% |
5. | Sand-lime stone | 30 - 83% |
6. | Concrete | 20 - 70% |
7. | Slate | < 40% |
8. | Concrete block & stone | 25 - 40% |
9. | Aerated concrete / Ytongue | 12 - 44% |
10. | Granite | 10 - 45% |
There is a legal limit value in place to protect employees from quartz dust. During a standard working day of eight hours, a worker may be exposed to a maximum of 0.05 mg/m³ quartz dust. However, this limit is exceeded by a wide margin in several activities.
Belgian employees with possible exposure to quartz dust.
Some examples of activities and the amount of quartz dust released by these:
Activity | Max. quartz | Number of times |
|---|---|---|
Cutting stones with circular saw | 15 | 300x |
Machine grinding or | 15 | 300x |
Milling | 15 | 300x |
Polishing | 15 | 300x |
Sanding or grinding of surfaces | 15 | 300x |
Cutting sand-lime brick or | 3,3 | 66x |
Drilling | 2,5 | 50x |
Brushing | 1 | 20x |
Demolition of walls | 1 | 20x |
Various factors influence the exact release of quartz dust. Examples are the amount of quartz in the material and the energy used in the activity.
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Measures against quartz dust
For many workers, exposure to quartz dust therefore seems unavoidable. So how do you, as an employer, protect your employees from the possible dangers in the best possible way? The following six intervention measures are ranked from most to least effective. So preferably go for one of the first measures – or even better – a combination of as many measures as possible.
Elimination or substitution: use materials with less or no quartz.
Technical measures: choose working methods that release less dust (e.g. cutting of concrete instead of sawing).
Organisational measures: limit the number of workers exposed to quartz dust and the duration of exposure.
Collective protective equipment: e.g. shielding, extraction or wet work methods (systems with water addition).
Personal protective equipment: provide well-maintained respiratory protection designed to fit closely to the face.
Information and training: make employees aware of the risks of quartz dust and inform them about possible protective measures.
Since 2020, a dust extraction or water addition system has been compulsory for all work equipment your employees may use to work on quartz-containing materials. If this is not technically feasible, anyone who could be exposed to quartz dust must wear a mask with a P3 dust filter.
In addition, medical support is also crucial to timely identify the risks and possible consequences of exposure to quartz dust.