Pneumoconiosis associated with exposure to glass and abrasive particles.
A patient with a history of decorating glass fixtures by means of abrasive etching presented with a disease characterized by diffuse infiltrates on chest roentgenogram and restriction and diffusion impairment on pulmonary function testing. Mineralogic analysis of biopsied pulmonary lesions showed particles consistent in composition to the glasses etched and abrasives used. The former particles were noncrystalline. Silicate mineral phases were identified as well, these displaying crystalline properties. Previous studies of workers exposed to abrasives, ie, silicon carbide and emery (as a form of corundum) suggest slight pneumoconiotic risk exists; this is also the case for workers exposed to forms of industrially made glass. The question is raised as to whether there exists, in this present case, an etiological association between exposure to respirable glassy particles and the development of pulmonary scarring.
D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001706:Biopsy; D002244:Carbon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012825:Silicon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017655:Silicon Compounds
D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D004391:Dust; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D002244:Carbon; D000535:Aluminum; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C022088:silicon carbide; D012825:Silicon