Association between exposure to crystalline silica and risk of sarcoidosis.

Abstract

Objectives-The possibility of an association between exposure to silica and autoimmune diseases has recently come under discussion. In the following casereferent study, a cohort exposed to diatomaceous earth and cristobalite provided an opportunity to evaluate such an exposure with reference to sarcoidosis. Methods-The inhabitants of a district served by a single healthcare centre and a hospital formed the study base. A diatomaceous earth plant is located in this community and the medical institutions are responsible for primary and secondary health care of the population. Cases of sarcoidosis were identified from the hospital records according to certain clinical, radiological, and histological criteria. Referents were selected randomly from the population of the district. Information on exposure to crystalline silica, cristobalite, was obtained by record linkage of the cases and referents with a file which included all present and past workers at the diatomaceous earth plant and those who had worked at loading vessels with the product from the plant. Results-Eight cases of sarcoidosis were found, six of which were in the exposed group. Of the 70 referents, 13 were exposed. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 13.2 (2.0 to 140.9). Conclusion-The odds ratios were high and there were some indications of a dose-response relation which will hopefully encourage further studies. To our knowledge this is the first study to indicate a relation between sarcoidosis and exposure to the crystalline silica, cristobalite. (Occup Environ Med 1998;55:657-660)

The Hypercalcemic Effect of Vitamin D3 in Sarcoidosis Could Be a Side Effect of an Endogenous Program Organizing Cancer Apoptosis

“…Inhaling inorganic substances can induce sarcoidosis, as Rafnsson and colleagues reported [43] Exposure to metals such as beryllium, titanium, aluminum, and zirconium is discussed as a trigger for sarcoidosis. The penetrance of risk is governed by two factors: genetic background and intensity of exposure [44][45][46][47][48].…”

Expanding the Spectrum of Particle-and Fiber-Associated Interstitial Lung Diseases

“…In a fourth case report, a patient presented with diffuse pulmonary granulomatosis, with sarcoid-like epithelioid granulomas and helper T-lymphocyte alveolitis [54]. The individual's occupational history suggested that his illness could be related to his work; he had worked as a chemist for eight years in a catalyst fabrication plant where he was exposed to large amounts of aluminum powders and iron and smaller quantities of copper, zinc, nickel, chromium, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, palladium, and silica.…”

“…These would include exposures to silica, cristobalite, aluminum compounds, barium compounds, beryllium, cobalt, copper, gold, titanium, zirconium, lanthanide metals, talc, glass fibers, rock wool, mixed dust, woodstoves, and firefighting [28,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63].…”

Computer-automated silica aerosol generator and animal inhalation exposure system

“…Exposure to crystalline silica can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer (Hughes et al, 2001;Knutsson et al, 2000;Peretz et al, 2006). Other studies have shown a link between crystalline silica exposure and the development of autoimmune disorders (Calvert et al, 2003;Rafnsson et al, 1998;Rosenman & Zhu, 1995). Diseases associated with crystalline silica exposure are usually incurable but are preventable.…”