Silicosis in a paint‐production worker: Study of a lung histological specimen with scanning electron microscopy—Energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer

Abstract

BACKGROUND We reported an uncommon case of silicosis in a worker involved for 25 years in the production of paints (water-based paints and quartz paints for the building industry). The etiology was confirmed by investigating a lung histological specimen with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Crystalline silica is a mineral widely found on earth as part of sand, rock, and mineral ores such as quartz. The most common free crystalline forms of silica in workplaces are quartz, tridymite, and cristobalite. 1 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1997 classified crystalline silica as a known carcinogen in humans (Group 1). 2 Recent epidemiologic studies strongly support the conclusion that silica exposure increases the risk of lung cancer in humans independently of confounding factors such as cigarette smoking. 1 Silica exposure causes many other adverse health effects, including silicosis, cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, autoimmune disease, and various kidney disorders. 3,4 Together with the increase in mortality, these findings make silica exposure a priority concern for public health, 5,6 in addition to urban air pollution. 7-11 Silicosis is a primary pneumoconiosis involving fibronodular lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust containing crystalline silica particles. 1 It is an irreversible, disabling, and incurable disease. There are three types of silicosis: acute (developing within weeks to a few years), accelerated (developing within 10 years), and chronic (developing more

Sarcoid-like Lung Disease as a Reaction to Silica from Exposure to Bentonite Cat Litter Complicated by End-Stage Renal Failure—A Case Report

“…However, the rapid improvement of the lung lesions during steroid therapy goes against a diagnosis of silicosis, as this is not typically indicative of pneumoconiosis. Indeed, such a response to steroid treatment may occur in sarcoidosis, whereas silicosis results in irreversible lung damage [17,18]. Moreover, no silicotic nodules or signs of fibrosis were found in the patient's biopsy specimen, and the micronodular shadow on the chest CT was not typical of silicosis caused by 18 years of exposure to silica.…”

Silicosis With Sarcoid-like Reaction Complicated by End-stage Renal Failure From Exposure to Bentonite Cat Litter: a Case Report

“…Controversially, we acknowledge that the rapid improvement of the lung lesions on steroid therapy typically should not indicate a diagnosis of silicosis, because pneumoconioses generally lead to irreversible lung damage. (3,4) In the literature, there is a case-report of silicosis that responded to steroid therapy, but in the case of our patient, we decided to consider this as a feature of sarcoidosis, especially in view of the concomitant calcitriol-mediated hypercalcemia. (5) Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unclear etiology, whereas SLR is an immune-mediated response to certain antigens, which relate to localized clinical features and do not ful ll the sarcoidosis criteria.…”

Lung Function Analysis of Marble Home Industry Workers in Tulungagung Regency

“…It is done considering the costs incurred due to health problems and work accidents caused by the work environment are significant with the harm it causes (ILO, 2008). The exposure can also develop into autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, and others (Baron et al, 2002;De Maria et al, 2020). Studies in China showed that 10 million workers contracted silicosis, with 5000 reported deaths (Natural Stone Institute, 2018).…”