Dataset Information

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica and lung cancer: a systematic review of cut-off points.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is associated with the development of lung cancer. However, there is uncertainty around the exposure threshold at which exposure to RCS may pose a clear risk for the development of lung cancer. The objective of this study was to review the cut-off points at which the risk of mortality or incidence of lung cancer due to occupational exposure to RCS becomes evident through a systematic review.

Methods

We conducted a search in PubMed, including cohort and case-control studies which assessed various categories of RCS exposure. A search was also conducted on the webpages of institutional organizations. A qualitative data synthesis was performed.

Results

Twenty studies were included. Studies that assessed lung cancer mortality and incidence displayed wide variability both in RCS exposure categories and related risks. Although most studies found no significant association for RCS exposure categories, it appears to be a low risk of lung cancer for mean concentrations of less than 0.07mg/m³. Regulatory agencies set annual RCS exposure limits ranging from 0.025mg/m³ through 0.1mg/m³.

Conclusions

There is a wide degree of heterogeneity in RCS exposure categories, with most studies observing no significant risk of lung cancer for the lowest exposure categories. Cut-off points differ between agencies but are nonetheless very similar and do not exceed 0.1mg/m³.

SUBMITTER: Rey-Brandariz J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10687911 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica and lung cancer: a systematic review of cut-off points.

Rey-Brandariz Julia J Martínez Cristina C Candal-Pedreira Cristina C Pérez-Ríos Mónica M Varela-Lema Leonor L Ruano-Ravina Alberto A

Environmental health : a global access science source 20231130 1

<h4>Background</h4>Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is associated with the development of lung cancer. However, there is uncertainty around the exposure threshold at which exposure to RCS may pose a clear risk for the development of lung cancer. The objective of this study was to review the cut-off points at which the risk of mortality or incidence of lung cancer due to occupational exposure to RCS becomes evident through a systematic review.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a search in PubMed, in ...[more]

PMID: 38031062

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Project description:IntroductionOccupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) has been associated with both silicosis and lung cancer, but no systematic review (SR) specifically focused on exposure-response relationships has been published for these diseases.MethodsWe conducted this SR in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed searches, supplemented with Web of Science and Google Scholar searches, identified 1,007 potentially relevant articles. After applying selection criteria and removing duplicates, 65 publications were reviewed and evaluated, 20 of which presented at least semi-quantitative exposure-response results for lung cancer (n = 12) and/or silicosis (n = 10).ResultsCumulative RCS exposure was most commonly reported. Increasing silicosis risk with increasing cumulative RCS exposure was reported in all studies, with exposure thresholds indicated, but at different cumulative exposures. For most studies defining silicosis as International Labor Organization (ILO) score ≥ 1/0, substantially increased risks were clear at or above 1 mg-/m3-yr. For lung cancer, exposure-response estimates were mixed with 4 studies reporting no statistically significantly increased relative risk of lung cancer at any cumulative RCS exposure. Three studies reported statistically significant increased risks but only for high cumulative RCS exposures. Residual confounding by smoking was not explicitly discussed in most studies. One case-control study presented an exposure-response analysis for silica and lung cancer limited to never-smokers with substantial silica exposure; risk was increased only among those in the highest RCS exposure category. Studies with more detailed smoking information generally reported risks close to background levels except at the highest cumulative RCS exposure categories.ConclusionSilicosis risk clearly and consistently was increased above cumulative exposure thresholds of roughly 1 mg/m3-years across most studies. However, for lung cancer, results were heterogeneous with potential residual confounding by smoking complicating interpretation. Results suggest that lung cancer risk may not be increased at cumulative RCS exposures below the reported exposure thresholds for silicosis risk.

Project description:Key messages• Occupational exposure to free crystalline silica and tobacco smoking are associated with an increased risk rheumatoid arthritis, with the evidence of an interaction in seropositive subjects. • Further studies in the field are needed to support such association We carried out a systematic search for all published epidemiological studies concerning the association between occupational exposure to free crystalline silica (FCS) and subsequent development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A meta-analysis was conducted on relevant studies. We searched PubMed and Embase, search engines, for original articles published (from 1960 to November 2019) in any language. In addition, we also searched reference lists of included studies manually for additional relevant articles. Finally, twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis (seven case-control cases and five cohort studies). The odds risks and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random effect meta-analysis. A primary meta-analysis (using a random effect model)-regarding RA risk in subjects exposed to FCS-yelled to an overall OR of 1.94 (95% CI 1.46-2.58). We also conducted three further meta-analysis, taking into account the presence of autoantibodies (anti-RF or anti-ACPA) and smoking habits and found a significant association between FCS and RA in both seropositive and seronegative subjects (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.35-2.25 and OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06-1.4, respectively) and in seropositive subjects which were smokers (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.40-4.54). The studies that have investigated the association between RA and occupatational exposure to FCS are still scarce and the heterogeneity between the studies remains high. Some critical limitations have been identified within studies, among which, the methods for assessing exposure stand out. Although with due caution, our results confirm the hypothesis of an association between occupational exposure to FCS and RA development. There was an interaction between FCS and tobacco smoking in RA seropositive workers.

Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the exposure to a selection of aerosols and gases in the work environment for workers performing tunnel construction using tunnel boring machines (TBMs), to identify determinants of exposure based on the information available and to calculate robust estimates of exposure using a statistical model. The focus was particulate matter (PM) and respirable crystalline silica (RCS). In addition, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), elemental carbon (EC), and oil mist were assessed.MethodsPersonal sampling was conducted from February 2017 to February 2019. PM in the thoracic and the respirable aerosol fractions was collected, and RCS was determined in the respirable aerosol fraction. Context information was collected on questionnaires. Because the workers could participate in the sampling more than once and multiple measurements were performed on the same date a mixed model was used in the analysis. Concentrations of PM and RCS are presented as estimated and measured geometric means (GMest and GMmea) and estimated arithmetic mean (AMest) in addition to the median. Measured concentrations of NO2, EC, and oil mist are presented as geometric means.ResultsA total of 290 and 289 personal samples of PM in the thoracic and respirable aerosol fractions were available for analysis, respectively. Work title/work location, type of work (production, maintenance, or a combination of the two), and date of sampling were identified as determinants of exposure. Workers in the front of the TBMs had the highest exposure to PM and RCS. The GMest of RCS exposure varied from 35 to 413 μg m-3 depending on the work title. The geometric standard deviations for measured RCS concentrations by work title ranged from 1.6 to 3.5. A total of 16 samples of NO2 and EC and 12 samples of oil mist were collected. Maximum values of NO2 and EC were 54 µg m-3 and 23 µg m-3, respectively. The maximum measured value of oil mist was 0.08 mg m-3.ConclusionsAll TBM workers were exposed to PM and RCS. Exposure to RCS may be substantial, and workers in front of the TBM were exposed to the highest concentrations of both PM and RCS. A day-to-day variation was found, probably caused by differences in drilling activities. Preventive measures are warranted to keep the exposure to PM and consequently the exposure to RCS as low as possible to protect the health of workers in tunnel construction.

Project description:In the ever-expanding complexities of the modern-day mining workplace, the continual monitoring of a safe and healthy work environment is a growing challenge. One specific workplace exposure concern is the inhalation of dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) which can lead to silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease. This is a recognized and regulated health hazard, commonly found in mining. The current methodologies to monitor this type of exposure involve distributed sample collection followed by costly and relatively lengthy follow-up laboratory analysis. To address this concern, we have investigated a data-driven predictive modeling pipeline to predict the amount of silica deposition quickly and accurately on a filter within minutes of sample collection completion. This field-based silica monitoring technique involves the use of small, and easily deployable, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers used for data collection followed by multivariate regression methodologies including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS). Given the complex nature of respirable dust mixtures, there is an increasing need to account for multiple variables quickly and efficiently during analysis. This analysis consists of several quality control steps including data normalization, PCA and PLS outlier detection, as well as applying correction factors based on the sampler and cassette used for sample collection. While outside the scope of this article to test, these quality control steps will allow for the acceptance of data from many different FTIR instruments and sampling types, thus increasing the overall useability of this method. Additionally, any sample analyzed through the model and validated using a secondary method can be incorporated into the training dataset creating an ever-growing, more robust predictive model. Multivariant predictive modeling has far-reaching implications given its speed, cost, and scalability compared to conventional approaches. This contribution presents the application of PCA and PLS as part of a computational pipeline approach to predict the amount of a deposited mineral of interest using FTIR data. For this specific application, we have developed the model to analyze RCS, although this process can be implemented in the analysis of any IR-active mineral, and this pipeline applied to any FTIR data.

Dataset Information

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica and lung cancer: a systematic review of cut-off points.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica and lung cancer: a systematic review of cut-off points.

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