Silica dust and lung cancer in the German stone, quarrying, and ceramics industries: results of a case-control study

• Published in: Thorax 1999-04, Vol.54 (4), p.347-351
• Main Authors: Ulm, K, Waschulzik, B, Ehnes, H, Guldner, K, Thomasson, B, Schwebig, A, Nuβ, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; ceramics industry; Dust - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - etiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Odds Ratio; Original; Pneumology; Risk Factors; silica dust; Silicon Dioxide - adverse effects; stone and quarry industry; Time Factors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum
• ISSN: 0040-6376; 1468-3296
• DOI: 10.1136/thx.54.4.347

BACKGROUND A work force based case-control study of lung cancer was performed in non-silicotic subjects exposed to crystalline silica to investigate the association between silica dust and lung cancer excluding the influence of silicosis. METHODS Two hundred and forty seven patients with lung cancer and 795 control subjects were enrolled, all of whom had been employed in the German stone, quarrying, or ceramics industries. Smoking was used as a matching criterion. Exposure to silica was quantified by measurements, if available, or otherwise by industrial hygienists. Several indices (peak, average and cumulative exposure) were used to analyse the relationship between the level of exposure and risk of lung cancer as odds ratios (OR). RESULTS The risk of lung cancer is associated with the year of and age at first exposure to silica, duration of exposure, and latency. All odds ratios were adjusted for these factors. Considering the peak exposure, the OR for workers exposed to high levels (⩾0.15 mg/m3 respirable silica dust which is the current occupational threshold value for Germany) compared with those exposed to low levels (