title: Silicosis Appears Inevitable Among Former Denim Sandblasters: A 4-Year Follow-up Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The course of denim sandblasting silicosis is unknown. We aimed to reevaluate former sandblasters studied in 2007 for incident silicosis, radiographic progression, pulmonary function loss, and mortality and to examine any associations between these outcomes and previously demonstrated risk factors for silicosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We defined silicosis on chest radiograph as category 1/0 small opacity profusion using the International Labor Organization classification. We defined radiographic progression as a profusion increase of two or more subcategories, development of a new large opacity, or an increase in large opacity category. We defined pulmonary function loss as a ≥ 12% decrease in FVC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 145 former sandblasters studied in 2007, 83 were reassessed in 2011. In the 4-year follow-up period, nine (6.2%) had died at a mean age of 24 years. Of the 74 living sandblasters available for reexamination, the prevalence of silicosis increased from 55.4% to 95.9%. Radiographic progression, observed in 82%, was associated with younger age, never smoking, foreman work, and sleeping at the workplace. Pulmonary function loss, seen in 66%, was positively associated with never smoking and higher initial FVC % predicted. Death was associated with never smoking, foreman work, number of different denim-sandblasting places of work, sleeping at the workplace, and lower pulmonary function, of which only the number of different places worked remained in multivariate analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 4-year follow-up suggests that almost all former denim sandblasters may develop silicosis, despite short exposures and latency.
authors: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: akgunm@gmail.com.
authors: Metin
authors: M
authors: Akgun
authors: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Araz
authors: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Elif Yilmazel
authors: EY
authors: Ucar
authors: Department of Radiology, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Adem
authors: A
authors: Karaman
authors: Department of Radiology, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Alper
authors: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Metin
authors: M
authors: Gorguner
authors: Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV.
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Kreiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012829:Silicosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013783:Textile Industry; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
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