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Rapid progression of silicosis in slate pencil workers: II. A follow‐up study
Author(s) -
Saiyed H. N.,
Chatterjee B. B.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700080208
Subject(s) - silicosis , medicine , exposure duration , health examination , environmental health , pathology
Findings of the follow‐up examination of slate‐pencil workers after 16 months are described. The progression of silicosis with this short duration was very rapid with high mortality among those who had conglomerate silicosis at the initial examination. Twenty‐three workers had died during this period at a mean age of only 34.7 years, with a mean duration of exposure of 11.9 years. This high mortality is attributed to exposure to high concentrations of silica dust leading to early onset of PMF at a relatively young age. The progression of silicosis within this period was related to the intensity and duration of dust exposure, and also to the severity of silicosis found at the initial examination. Smoking habits had an adverse, though statistically nonsignificant, effect on the evolution of silicosis.