Major research trends in respiratory diseases in construction sites; a scientometrics study considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Most construction workers, including operators and engineers, suffer respiratory injuries due to exposure to hazardous materials and particulate matter (PM). This review article presents a brief overview of previous research on respiratory diseases in construction sites and links it to the COVID-19 epidemic, trying to explain other possible routes of coronavirus spread. The purpose of this review study is to find other methods of coronavirus transmission in construction sites. To achieve this goal, on the one hand, the literature on the spread of COVID-19 disease was reviewed. On the other hand, by reviewing the literature related to the health of construction department workers, we find that people who work in this occupational class suffer from respiratory diseases after a while. Therefore, they are at high risk for coronavirus. The next step is to review the literature on the effects of COVID-19 on the bodies of people with a history of respiratory disease. It is found that these people are at risk of death. It seems that transmission is not limited to known methods such as sneezing and coughing. In addition, the virus can be spread by dust and airborne particles. Due to the special conditions at the construction site, there is a higher probability that the coronavirus will be transmitted between individuals and employees. Obviously, the infection of individuals can cause irreparable harm and economically affect the construction industry.