Silica, silicosis and lung-cancer: results from a cohort study in the stone and quarry industry.
BACKGROUND
Workers compensated for silicosis outside the mining industry are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In the meta-analyses no data from Germany are involved. Furthermore, exposure data are necessary if a threshold value is to be assessed in order to reduce the risk for silicosis and also for lung cancer.


METHODS
A cohort study among workers compensated for silicosis between 1988 and 2000 from the stone and quarry industry in Germany has been initiated. The cohort was followed up until the end of 2001. From all workers a detailed description of their jobs was assessed.


RESULTS
Four hundred and forty workers were enrolled in the study. During the follow-up 144 workers died, compared with 74.35 expected cases based on the mortality rates of the general population from Germany, leading to a standard mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.94 (95% CI 1.63-2.28). Lung cancer was the cause of death in 16 cases (SMR 2.40; 95% CI 1.37-3.90). All workers had a peak exposure above 0.15 mg/m3, the current threshold value. The cumulative exposure was above 2 mg/m3.years and the average exposure was 0.10 mg/m3 or larger. No association between the exposure and the risk of developing lung cancer could be observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Workers from the stone and quarry industry compensated for silicosis are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In order to reduce that risk, the exposure has to be lowered, with a peak exposure below 0.15 mg/m3 and an average exposure below 0.10 mg/m3.
Ulm
K
K
Institute for Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Strasse 22, Munich, Germany. kurt.ulm@imse.med.tu-muenchen.de
Gerein
P
P
Eigenthaler
J
J
Schmidt
S
S
Ehnes
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D012822:Silicon Dioxide