Epidemiologic studies of inorganic dust-related lung diseases in The Netherlands.
The results of two epidemiologic investigations on dust-related lung diseases are presented. The two studies had different aims and designs. A cross-sectional study was done to investigate the silicosis prevalence in Dutch fine ceramic workers. In the small ceramic workshops in the Gouda region, simple pneumoconiosis is still commonly present (13.3%), whereas the silicosis prevalence in the highly mechanized industries is low (1.7%). Furthermore, heavy smoking seems to enhance the risk for silicosis after long-term exposure to quartz. A case-control study was performed to analyze the relation between dust exposure in the fine ceramic and coal mining industries and lung cancer. No relation between a work history in the dusty trades and lung cancer emerged, and a correlation with a specific histologic tumor cell type could not be demonstrated. Apparently, workers in the Dutch fine ceramic or coal mining industry have no increased risk of developing lung malignancies.
Meijers
J M
JM
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Swaen
G M
GM
van Vliet
K
K
Borm
P J
PJ
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002516:Ceramics; D003032:Coal Mining; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012829:Silicosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D004391:Dust