Chiara Costa1, Giorgio Ascenti2, Emanuele Scribano2, Tommaso D'Angelo3, Michele Gaeta2, Concettina Fenga1, Alfredo Blandino2, Silvio Mazziotti2. 1. Department of Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences-Occupational Medicine Section, Policlinico "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125, Messina, Italy. 2. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, Policlinico "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, Policlinico "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy. tommasodang@gmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this article is to correlate the radiological features of pleuro-pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of pumice (an extrusive volcanic rock classified as a non-fibrous, amorphous, complex silicate) with exposure conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 subjects employed in the pumice quarries were evaluated for annual follow-up in a preventive medical surveillance program including spirometry, chest CT lasting from 1999 to 2014. They were only male subjects, mean age 56.92 ± 16.45 years. Subjects had worked in the quarries for an average of 25.03 ± 9.39 years. Domestic or occupational exposure to asbestos or other mineral dusts other than pumice was excluded. Subjects were also classified as smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. RESULTS: Among the 36 workers examined, we identified four CT patterns which resulted to be dependent on exposure duration and intensity, FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75, but not on cigarette smoking. The most common symptoms reported by clinical examination were dyspnoea, cough and asthenia. In no case it was proven an evolution of CT findings during follow-up for 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Liparitosis, caused by pumice inhalation, can be considered a representative example of pneumoconiosis derived by amorphous silica compounds, which are extremely widespread for industrial manufacturing as well as for applicative uses, such as nano-materials. Moreover, being pumice free of quartz contamination, it can represent a disease model for exposure to pure non-fibrous silicates.
PURPOSE: The aim of this article is to correlate the radiological features of pleuro-pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of pumice (an extrusive volcanic rock classified as a non-fibrous, amorphous, complex silicate) with exposure conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 subjects employed in the pumice quarries were evaluated for annual follow-up in a preventive medical surveillance program including spirometry, chest CT lasting from 1999 to 2014. They were only male subjects, mean age 56.92 ± 16.45 years. Subjects had worked in the quarries for an average of 25.03 ± 9.39 years. Domestic or occupational exposure to asbestos or other mineral dusts other than pumice was excluded. Subjects were also classified as smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. RESULTS: Among the 36 workers examined, we identified four CT patterns which resulted to be dependent on exposure duration and intensity, FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75, but not on cigarette smoking. The most common symptoms reported by clinical examination were dyspnoea, cough and asthenia. In no case it was proven an evolution of CT findings during follow-up for 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Liparitosis, caused by pumice inhalation, can be considered a representative example of pneumoconiosis derived by amorphous silica compounds, which are extremely widespread for industrial manufacturing as well as for applicative uses, such as nano-materials. Moreover, being pumice free of quartz contamination, it can represent a disease model for exposure to pure non-fibrous silicates.
Authors: M R Miller; J Hankinson; V Brusasco; F Burgos; R Casaburi; A Coates; R Crapo; P Enright; C P M van der Grinten; P Gustafsson; R Jensen; D C Johnson; N MacIntyre; R McKay; D Navajas; O F Pedersen; R Pellegrino; G Viegi; J Wanger Journal: Eur Respir J Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 16.671
Authors: F Falaschi; L Battolla; A Paolicchi; P Paggiaro; D Talini; M Carrara; C Giuntini; C Bartolozzi Journal: Radiol Med Date: 1995-04 Impact factor: 3.469
Authors: S Mazziotti; M Gaeta; C Costa; G Ascenti; L Barbaro Martino; G Spatari; N Settineri; M Barbaro Journal: Eur Respir J Date: 2004-02 Impact factor: 16.671
Authors: John M Balbus; Andrew D Maynard; Vicki L Colvin; Vincent Castranova; George P Daston; Richard A Denison; Kevin L Dreher; Peter L Goering; Alan M Goldberg; Kristen M Kulinowski; Nancy A Monteiro-Riviere; Günter Oberdörster; Gilbert S Omenn; Kent E Pinkerton; Kenneth S Ramos; Kathleen M Rest; Jennifer B Sass; Ellen K Silbergeld; Brian A Wong Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 9.031