Refractory industrial production, chemical composition, synthesis processes and hygienical aspects in worker health protection
Pedersini, P.; Maier, F.; Alessandro, G.; Maion, M.; Romano, A.
Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro Ed Ergonomia 34(3): 229-235
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1592-7830 PMID: 23213794 Document Number: 657004
The importance of the refractories sintering and manufacture can be better understood considering that the worldwide refractories consumption is about 2,3 kg per year/human being. The RHI Group, world leader in the refractories production, is present in Italy with the production of refractories for the steel and glass sectors in two important industrial sites, in Marone (Brescia) and in San Vito al Tagliamento (Pordenone) respectively. Describes origin, structure and characteristics of the different refractory materials, with particular focus on the different production technologies used in the manufacture of basic refractories (dolomite refractories) and mixed based on alumina, zirconia and silica. We describe the main hygienistics aspects relevant for the protection to the exposure of the workers involved in described production processes. In the production of dolomite refractories, we present the actions that have been implemented in order to reduce the exposure to the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this process, we report the results of a decade of exposure's monitoring to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a group of refractory workers.