[The relationship between occupational exposure to silica and selected connective tissue diseases]

Silica dioxide is a widely prevalent hazardous dust in occupational environments, with respiratory exposure serving as the primary pathogenic factor for silicosis. Macrophage damage, chronic inflammation, and abnormal activation of the immune system play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of silicosis. Numerous domestic and international studies have demonstrated that occupational silica dioxide exposure is associated with an increased risk of connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis. To systematically review the evidence linking occupational silica dioxide exposure to connective tissue diseases and elucidate its underlying pathogenic mechanisms, this article summarizes recent epidemiological research findings worldwide. It delineates the pathogenic pathway through which silica dioxide damages macrophages, induces persistent chronic inflammation, and triggers abnormal autoantibody production, thereby mediating systemic immune dysregulation.