Preventive effect of aluminium citrate on silicosis

Aluminium citrate (Al-cit) was shown to be biologically effective in preventing silicosis. A total of 917 cases selected from both engineering corps of railway and coalmines with stage 0 or 0+ by radiographs were studied. Cases were randomly divided into Al-cit treatment group and control group with continuing dust exposures. Workers in the treatment group were injected with Al-cit at a dose of 120 mg Al/year and these in the control group received a consolatant or nothing during the period of five years. The radiographic changes demonstrated that Al-cit showed clear-cut effects in both retardation of the dust-induced fibrosis and decrease of the morbidity of silicosis.