Danger Dust

Silicosis is claiming thousands of lives in Tanzania. Workers in cement plants and those employed in the concrete blocks manufacturing value chain are particularly vulnerable to this deadly disease as many work without adequate safety gear.

Conducted by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the study emphasizes that cement manufacturing processes generate dust containing silica and other toxic materials that can severely impact the respiratory systems of exposed workers. 

In Tanzania, respiratory diseases rank among the top ten causes of death. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) accounts for six percent of deaths, while lower respiratory infections account for five percent, according to the report.