title: Cross-Sectional Study on Nonmalignant Respiratory Morbidity due to Exposure to Synthetic Amorphous Silica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the health impact of chronic exposure to synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) on nonmalignant respiratory morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used multiple linear and logistic regression models and Monte Carlo multimodel analyses of two exposure scenarios to evaluate the effect of cumulative exposure to inhalable SAS dust on symptoms, spirometry, and chest films in 462 male workers from five German SAS-producing plants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to SAS was associated with a reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC) in one of the two exposure scenarios but had no effect on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or FEV1/FVC in either exposure scenario. Monte Carlo analysis indicated a decline in FVC of -11 mL per 10 mg/m-years exposure (-6 to -0.4). Chest films showed no evidence of pneumoconiosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides limited evidence of minor dose-related effects of chronic exposure to SAS on lung function.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Germany (Drs Taeger, Brüning, Merget); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston (Dr McCunney); Wacker Chemie AG, Health Services, Burghausen (Dr Bailer); Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH, Health Management, Rheinfelden (Dr Barthel); Evonik Industries AG, Health Services, Wesseling (Dr Küpper); Institute for Occupational Epidemiology and Risk Assessment (IERA) of Evonik Industries AG, Essen (Dr Morfeld); and Institute and Policlinic for Occupational Medicine, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Research, University of Cologne, Germany (Dr Morfeld).
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taeger
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCunney
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bailer
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barthel
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Küpper
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morfeld
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merget
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D012822:Silicon Dioxide