title: Prevalence of silicosis in a marble factory after exposure to quartz conglomerates.
abstract: In this note we present the increased prevalence of silicosis found in a marble factory after exposure to a new presentation of silica. A prospective, observational study was conducted on 11 workers who were exposed to different presentations of quartz surfaces since 1995. The jobs were divided into two groups: 4 subjects worked in the cutting workshop; the rest of the workers worked in assembly. Up to that date they had not used any specific respiratory protection apparatus. Six cases of silicosis have been diagnosed, which assumes a disease prevalence in this environment of 54.5%. Of the 6 affected, 5 (83.3% are assemblers. We highlight the high risk of developing silicosis in the handling of different products which make up the range of quartz surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Galdakao, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain. silvia.pascualerquicia@osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Urrutia
authors.forename: Aitor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballaz
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arrizubieta
authors.forename: Lander
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altube
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salinas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011791:Quartz / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D011791:Quartz; D002119:Calcium Carbonate