Silica, silicosis, and lung cancer: a risk assessment

✍ Scribed by Murray M. Finkelstein

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 144 KB
• Volume: 38
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0274(200007)38:1<8::aid-ajim2>3.0.co;2-#

✦ Synopsis

Background To investigate exposure±response relationships for silica, silicosis, and lung cancer. Methods Quantitative review of the literature identi®ed in a computerized literature search.

Results

The risk of silicosis (ILO category 1/1 or more) following a lifetime of exposure at the current OSHA standard of 0.1 mg/m 3 is likely to be at least 5±10% and lung cancer risk is likely to be increased by 30% or more. The exposure±response relation for silicosis is nonlinear and reduction of dust exposures would have a greater than linear bene®t in terms of risk reduction. Available data suggests that 30 years exposure at 0.1 mg/m 3 might lead to a lifetime silicosis risk of about 25%, whereas reduction of the exposure to 0.05 mg/m 3 might reduce the risk to under 5%. Conclusions The lifetime risk of silicosis and lung cancer at an exposure level of 0.1 mg/m 3 is high. Lowering exposures to the NIOSH recommended limit if 0.05 mg/m 3 may have substantial bene®t.