Lung function decrease in relation to pneumoconiosis and exposure to quartz‐containing dust in construction workers

Nij, Evelyn Tjoe; Meer, Gea de; Smit, Jet; Heederik, Dick

doi:10.1002/ajim.10229

Cited by 32 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…For carpenters and tunnel workers prevalence of SCA was higher. These findings are similar to those reported by other investigators [Ulvestad et al, 2000;Tjoe-Nij et al, 2003]. In a cross-sectional study of 212 tunnel construction workers compared to outside and white-collar construction workers, 26% of tunnel workers reported chest tightness and wheeze [Ulvestad et al, 2000].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Airway disease in highway and tunnel construction workers exposed to silica

Oliver¹,

Miracle-McMahill²

2006

American J Industrial Med

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Prevalence is high compared to our earlier study (4.6%) [Oliver et al, 2001] and similar to that of Tjoe-Nij et al [2003], who found that 10% of workers reported chronic cough with sputum. Twenty-nine percent of participants reported SOB.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Airway disease in highway and tunnel construction workers exposed to silica

Oliver¹,

Miracle-McMahill²

2006

American J Industrial Med

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“…Although some hazards, such as certain solvents in paints, may have been removed from occupations with multiple exposures, the potential for exposure to other hazards remains, for example, silica exposure in the construction industry, in which the number of employees is increasing. Studies in the Dutch construction industry suggested that over half of the full-shift respirable quartz dust measurements were above the Dutch Occupational Exposure Limit with exposure being highly variable from day to day and between jobs and tasks 77. In addition there will be considerable numbers of workers exposed at low levels and risk to some carcinogens that may contribute substantially to both high AFs and numbers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The burden of cancer at work: estimation as the first step to prevention

2007

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Objectives: Work-related cancers are largely preventable. The overall aim of this project is to estimate the current burden of cancer in Great Britain attributable to occupational factors, and identify carcinogenic agents, industries and occupations for targeting risk prevention. Methods: Attributable fractions and numbers were estimated for mortality and incidence for bladder, lung, non-melanoma skin, and sinonasal cancers, leukaemia and mesothelioma for agents and occupations classified as International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Group 1 and 2A carcinogens with ''strong'' or ''suggestive'' evidence for carcinogenicity at the specific cancer site in humans. Risk estimates were obtained from published literature and national data sources used for estimating proportions exposed.Results: In 2004, 78 237 men and 71 666 women died from cancer in Great Britain. Of these, 7317 (4.9%) deaths (men: 6259 (8%); women: 1058 (1.5%)) were estimated to be attributable to work-related carcinogens for the six cancers assessed. Incidence estimates were 13 338 (4.0%) registrations (men: 11 284 (6.7%); women 2054 (1.2%)). Asbestos contributed over half the occupational attributable deaths, followed by silica, diesel engine exhaust, radon, work as a painter, mineral oils in metal workers and in the printing industry, environmental tobacco smoke (non-smokers), work as a welder and dioxins. Occupational exposure to solar radiation, mineral oils and coal tars/pitches contributed 2557, 1867 and 550 skin cancer registrations, respectively. Industries/occupations with large numbers of deaths and/or registrations include construction, metal working, personal and household services, mining (not metals), land transport and services allied to transport, roofing, road repair/ construction, printing, farming, the Armed Forces, some other service industry sectors and manufacture of transport equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, non-ferrous metals and metal products, and chemicals. Conclusions: Estimates for all but leukaemia are greater than those currently used in UK health and safety strategy planning and contrast with small numbers (200-240 annually) from occupational accidents. Sources of uncertainty in the estimates arise principally from approximate data and methodological issues. On balance, the estimates are likely to be a conservative estimate of the true risk. Long latency means that past high exposures will continue to give substantial numbers in the near future. Although levels of many exposures have reduced, recent measurements of others, such as wood dust and respirable quartz, show continuing high levels.

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“…Cement masons are known to be significantly exposed to dust containing crystalline silica (quartz) (1) and, given ϳ500,000 such employees in the US (2), represent a sizable population at risk. Such workers are responsible for mixing, pouring, spreading, sanding, and grinding hard concrete.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cell markers, cytokines, and immune parameters in cement mason apprentices

Carlsten¹,

Roos²,

Kaufman³

et al. 2007

Arthritis & Rheumatism

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Objective. Cement masons are known to have significant silica exposure, and silica exposure and silicosis are thought to increase risk of autoimmune disease. Because the mechanisms remain obscure, with inconclusive reports of systemic immune effects following silica exposure, our goal was to identify potential early markers of silica-related immunologic and respiratory effects. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study of cement mason apprentices and electrician (control) apprentices. Demographics, dust exposure history, symptoms, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, and blood (for immunoglobulins, cytokines, cell counts, and surface markers) were obtained from 11 cement mason apprentices and a comparison group of 21 electrician apprentices. Results. Masons had significantly higher (P < 0.05) masonry dust exposure (42 versus 9 dust-hour-years), serum interleukin-1␤ (IL-1␤; 12 versus 9 pg/ml), IL-2 (20 versus 8 pg/ml), IL-4 (193 versus 67 pg/ml), IL-10 (44 versus 21 pg/ml), and interferon-␥ (139 versus 65 pg/ml) compared with electricians. In contrast, masons had significantly lower percentages of CD25؉ (12% versus 20%) and CD69؉ (4% versus 9%) lymphocytes. Conclusion. Mason apprentices had higher levels of serum proinflammatory cytokines and lower percentages of CD25؉ and CD69؉ lymphocytes than did electrician apprentices. These preliminary findings suggest that mason apprentices may be at greater risk of a systemic proinflammatory state that is potentially linked to immune dysregulation. Although distinct limitations of this preliminary data are recognized, this is consistent with early biologic effects leading to increased incidence of autoimmune disease among silica-exposed workers. Prospective studies are needed to validate these initial findings and clarify the temporal sequence of observed relationships.

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Lung function decrease in relation to pneumoconiosis and exposure to quartz‐containing dust in construction workers

Abstract: In quartz dust exposed construction workers obstructive and restrictive lung function loss was detected.

Cited by 32 publications

References 30 publications

Airway disease in highway and tunnel construction workers exposed to silica

Airway disease in highway and tunnel construction workers exposed to silica

The burden of cancer at work: estimation as the first step to prevention

Cell markers, cytokines, and immune parameters in cement mason apprentices

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