title: High prevalence and advanced silicosis in active granite workers: a dose-response analysis including FEV1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate silica exposure and respiratory disease in granite workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 440 active granite workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven (17.5%) have silicosis, complicated in 15 of them; 18 have an obstructive ventilatory defect and 73 had exceeded 3.5 mg/m-year of cumulative silica exposure. Percent predicted FEV1 have a significant negative relation with mg/m(3)-year (P < 0.001) with a trend toward dose-response excluding silicotics and controlling for tobacco. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of having a percent predicted FEV1 below 50th percentile is 1.18 (0.66 to 2.11) for nonexposed smokers, 1.47 (0.76 to 2.84) for exposed nonsmokers, and 2.07 (1.12 to 3.85) for exposed smokers, in comparison with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that silica induces functional alteration regardless of silicosis and, in all likelihood, synergistically with tobacco. Exposure levels must be controlled better in these workers and those with silicosis must be relocated to risk-free jobs or retired.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Silicosis, Oviedo, Spain. Gumersino.rego@sespa.princast.es
authors.forename: Gumersindo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pichel
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quero
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Isidro
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuervo
authors.forename: Artemio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D012829:Silicosis / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C007886:granite; D012822:Silicon Dioxide