Health Cost of Dust Pollution of Architectural Engineering Construction in Construction Site: Evidence from China

Abstract

Toxic and harmful gases, noise, industrial dust, loads, and job posture in architectural engineering construction are the different factors that influence health loss of construction workers. Among them, construction dust is a primary occupational health threat among construction workers. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the dust pollution hazard in the architectural construction process and quantitatively estimate the health loss of construction workers. It uses a case study based on an earthwork stage in a construction site at Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China. Environmental health risks were evaluated by using the exposure parameter method, while estimating the health losses of different objects caused by earthwork in this construction site. Results demonstrated that dust in the earthwork site was caused by the cement process and moving vehicles. Cementers and road cleaners suffered the most threats from dust with dust exposure dosages of 0.48 and 0.21 mg/kg·d, respectively. The health losses of cementers and road cleaners reached CNY 19,342.74 and CNY 14,532.36, respectively. A reduction on health costs caused by dust pollution in architectural engineering construction is possible through the following proposed measures: strengthening the monitoring of the construction workers’ level of exposure to dust pollution, establishing a health management system for construction workers, focusing on the effect of environmental supervision mechanism, and standardizing the emission standards of construction dust pollution. Results could provide some references in understanding the current status and distribution law of dust pollution in construction sites, promoting the implementation of health management and protection system for construction workers, enhancing the working environment of construction workers, and quantitatively estimating the total health influences of architectural engineering.