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Silica, silicosis, and lung cancer: a risk assessment
1Occupational Health Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. murray.finkelstein@utoronto.ca
Background:
To investigate exposure-response relationships for silica, silicosis, and lung cancer.
Methods:
Quantitative review of the literature identified in a computerized literature search.
Results:
The risk of silicosis (ILO category 1/1 or more) following a lifetime of exposure at the current OSHA standard of 0.1 mg/m(3) is likely to be at least 5-10% and lung cancer risk is likely to be increased by 30% or more. The exposure-response relation for silicosis is nonlinear and reduction of dust exposures would have a greater than linear benefit in terms of risk reduction. Available data suggests that 30 years exposure at 0.1 mg/m(3) might lead to a lifetime silicosis risk of about 25%, whereas reduction of the exposure to 0.05 mg/m(3) might reduce the risk to under 5%.
Conclusions:
The lifetime risk of silicosis and lung cancer at an exposure level of 0.1 mg/m(3) is high. Lowering exposures to the NIOSH recommended limit if 0.05 mg/m(3) may have substantial benefit.