BACKGROUND: In 1997, a Monograph from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified occupational exposure to crystalline silica as carcinogenic to humans. Large amounts of epidemiological data have been published subsequently. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of epidemiological investigations on silica exposure and lung cancer risk published after the IARC Monograph, including 28 cohort, 15 case-control and two proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) studies. These were identified in the available literature. RESULTS: The pooled RR of lung cancer, calculated using random effects models, from all cohort studies considering occupational exposure to silica was 1.34. The RRs were 1.69 in cohort studies of silicotics only, 1.25 in studies where silicosis status was undefined and 1.19 among non silicotic subjects. The pooled RR was 1.41 for all case-control studies. The RRs were 3.27 in case-control studies of silicotics only, 1.41 in studies where silicosis status was undefined and 0.97 among non silicotic subjects. The RR was 1.24 for PMR studies. CONCLUSIONS: In this re-analysis, the association with lung cancer was consistent for silicotics, but the data were limited for non silicotic subjects and not easily explained for undefined silicosis status workers. This leaves open the issue of dose-risk relation and pathogenic mechanisms and supports the conclusion that the carcinogenic role of silica per se in absence of silicosis is still unclear.
BACKGROUND: In 1997, a Monograph from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified occupational exposure to crystalline silica as carcinogenic to humans. Large amounts of epidemiological data have been published subsequently. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of epidemiological investigations on silica exposure and lung cancer risk published after the IARC Monograph, including 28 cohort, 15 case-control and two proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) studies. These were identified in the available literature. RESULTS: The pooled RR of lung cancer, calculated using random effects models, from all cohort studies considering occupational exposure to silica was 1.34. The RRs were 1.69 in cohort studies of silicotics only, 1.25 in studies where silicosis status was undefined and 1.19 among non silicotic subjects. The pooled RR was 1.41 for all case-control studies. The RRs were 3.27 in case-control studies of silicotics only, 1.41 in studies where silicosis status was undefined and 0.97 among non silicotic subjects. The RR was 1.24 for PMR studies. CONCLUSIONS: In this re-analysis, the association with lung cancer was consistent for silicotics, but the data were limited for non silicotic subjects and not easily explained for undefined silicosis status workers. This leaves open the issue of dose-risk relation and pathogenic mechanisms and supports the conclusion that the carcinogenic role of silica per se in absence of silicosis is still unclear.
Authors: Sara De Matteis; Dario Consonni; Jay H Lubin; Margaret Tucker; Susan Peters; Roel Ch Vermeulen; Hans Kromhout; Pier Alberto Bertazzi; Neil E Caporaso; Angela C Pesatori; Sholom Wacholder; Maria Teresa Landi Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2012-03-31 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Thomas C Erren; Christine B Glende; Peter Morfeld; Claus Piekarski Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2008-12-06 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Jong-Han Leem; Hwan-Cheol Kim; Jeong-Seon Ryu; Jong Uk Won; Jai Dong Moon; Young-Chul Kim; Sang Baek Koh; Suk Joong Yong; Soo Geun Kim; Jae Yong Park; Inah Kim; Jung Il Kim; Jung Won Kim; Eui-Cheol Lee; Hyoung-Ryoul Kim; Dae-Hwan Kim; Dong Mug Kang; Yun-Chul Hong Journal: Saf Health Work Date: 2010-12-30