[Silica carcinogenicity: description of a clinical case]

Until the early 1980's there was a general consensus that no relationship existed between occupational silica exposure and lung cancer, in spite of a number of reports to the contrary. Confirmation arrived later from animal experiments and in 1997 the IARC modified its carcinogenic agents classification to include silica in group 1, human carcinogens. This fact brought about a change in insurance practice regarding occupational diseases due to silica, with greater attention dedicated to pneumoconiosis-related lung cancers.

To describe a clinical case of lung cancer due to occupational exposure to silica in a worker of a ceramics industry already receiving compensation for silicosis.

Diagnosis and recognition of the occupational origin of the disease were achieved via assessment of exposure to silica in the past and review of the medical examinations over the years.

The pathogenesis and the causative relationship between pneumoconiosis and cancer is debated and lung cancer was recognized as an occupational disease.

It is concluded that a causative relationship can exist more due to the presence of silicosis than due to occupational exposure to silica.