[Laboral talc pneumoconiosis as a low frequency disease]

To identify the association between exposition to talcum powder and talcosilicosis in a cosmetic factory.

A descriptive and prospective survey including 24 workers from the bottling and grinding areas was performed. All patients had chest roentgenography. They were separated into two groups: the first patients exposed up to a period of five years and the second with more than five years exposure. Environmental monitoring of high flow polyvinyl chloride filters and galvimetric analysis was performed. The dust analysis was performed in 12 inhaling powders, eight environmental and four in workers. A Fisher exact test was applied.

All of the exposed workers displayed radiographic findings compatible with talcosis; 18 (75%) patients had light talcosis and 6 (25%) moderate. The Fisher test was 13.7 with a p value of 0.004. Dust analysis showed: five were reported over the maximum allowed levels corresponding to the areas of compact cosmetics grinders, powder grinders, powder dispensers and the talcum final line. The analyzed talcum powder contained more than 95% of free silica.

The association was confirmed between the exposure and the presence of talcosis.