Abstract

Cement is an essential construction material but also represents a significant occupational health hazard due to its highly alkaline nature and the presence of toxic trace metals such as hexavalent chromium, nickel, and cobalt. Prolonged exposure through skin contact, inhalation, or accidental ingestion can result in dermatological disorders including irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, chemical burns, and chronic eczema, as well as systemic effects characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Recent evidence suggests that molecular regulators such as Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) may play an important role in mediating cement-induced cellular damage and inflammatory responses. Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities for occupational health monitoring through real-time exposure assessment, machine learning-based disease prediction, computer vision-assisted dermatological screening, and biomarker analysis. This review summarizes the chemical composition of cement, its dermatological and biochemical effects, underlying toxicological mechanisms, and the emerging role of AI in improving occupational health surveillance. The integration of AI with occupational toxicology may facilitate early disease detection, personalized risk assessment, and enhanced worker protection in construction environments.

Keywords:Cement dust; Occupational toxicity; Dermatitis; SIRT1 and Artificial intelligence

Abbreviations: SIRT1: Sirtuin 1; AI: Artificial Intelligence; AST: Aspartate Aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine Aminotransferase; ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase; SOD: Superoxide Dismutase; CAT: Catalase; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; ANN: Artificial Neural Network; CNNs: Convolutional Neural Networks

Highlights

1. Cement exposure causes dermatological, biochemical, and systemic health effects in construction workers.
2. Hexavalent chromium and other heavy metals promote oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
3. SIRT1 may serve as a potential biomarker of cement-induced cellular toxicity.
4. Artificial Intelligence supports exposure assessment, disease prediction, and health surveillance.
5. AI-integrated occupational health systems can improve worker safety and preventive interventions.