Assessment of occupational exposures in foundries.

The working environment of foundries is hazardous and characterized by multiple simultaneous chemical and physical hazards exposure. In the present work, four foundries, namely; El Nasr Casting and Ramsis foundry in Alexandria and Misr Spinning and Weaving and Misr Rayon Companies in Kafr El-Dawar in Behira have been surveyed. Levels of total and respirable dust, free silica % in total dust and lead concentration in total and respirable dust; NO2, SO2 and CO concentrations; noise and heat stress levels have been determined in the present work utilizing recommended standard methods and direct reading calibrated instruments. The results of the present study revealed; 1. The levels of total dust and respirable dust taken at the four companies and at all operations are within threshold limit values, except at knockout and cleaning operation at El Nasr company. 2. Free silica concentration in total dust at all operations in all the companies are within threshold limit values, except at moulding, melting and knockout and cleaning operations in El Nasr Company. 3. Lead concentrations in total and respirable dust at melting and pouring in Misr Reyon Company are within threshold limit values. 4. Gases comprising NO2, SO2 and CO levels are within threshold limits in melting and pouring in all companies for the former two whereas CO levels in Misr spinning and weaving company are higher than threshold limit values. 5. Noise levels in knockout and cleaning operation at the four companies are exceeding threshold limit values. 6. Heat stress levels in melting and pouring operation in El Nasr and in pouring operation in Ramsis are higher than maximum allowable permissible levels. The present work is a massive survey, which highlights the occupational hazards in Egyptian foundries.