Air quality here.

[frankie]

There is a Spanish man who works at Cosentino and really, really hates his employer.  Many workers are retiring early due to severe chest problems and he is concerned that his chest is starting to feel bad despite being a  non smoker or drinker.  He maintains that there are lots of toxic clouds of smoke coming from the ventilators and chimneys there.  He truly believes we, who live in the Almanzora Valley, are all breathing in this toxic air depending on the prevailing winds ie in winter coming down the valley from Baza direction and in summer coming up from the coast.  He says clear air does not mean clean air.
Not something I had given any thought to and i do wonder if he is right....

[Judi_bk]

I doubt it is that.  As tyou know, Frankie, my background is the ceramic tile industry where lung problems, mostly silicosis, were common due to the dust from the ground rock, china clay etc used to make the tile base.  Even working in the office we had to have regular  breathing strength checks.  The factiry workforce had to wear masks.  I wonder how many people who worked in the quarries or the Cosentino factory wore masks.  They may do now but that will be very recent.  These problems are very local and will only affect those who work in the quarry or factory and possibly family members if they take quantities of dust home on their clothes

[frankie]

Interesting about the masks, Judi.  I went on a tour of the marble quarries not long after I moved here.  I was horrified that the Artisans especially, did not wear them or goggles.  They were coated in dust from head to toe.  I queried it with the guide and he said they were all given them, plus toe protector boots, goggles etc but they refused to wear them and apparently there was no law to make them.  It is possible that has changed as it was nearly 15 years ago that I went.
As for Cosentino, the Spaniard I was speaking to said that his fellow workers did not wear masks but that he did.  He will not eat any fruit or veg grown in this valley due to, he says, contamination.  He did collect all my ripe Nispero though before he left!!!

[Judi_bk]

It is dangerous to breath in but not chemical.  Just the tiny bits of silica in the ground stone.  They are sharp and damage your lungs