Silicosis in dental supply factory workers

Rafael E de la Hoz; Kenneth Rosenman; Alain Borczuk

doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2004.01.012

Silicosis in dental supply factory workers

Respir Med. 2004 Aug;98(8):791-4. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2004.01.012.

Authors

Rafael E de la Hoz¹, Kenneth Rosenman, Alain Borczuk

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. rafael.delahoz@mssm.edu

PMID: 15303646
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2004.01.012

Abstract

Dental products contain a variety of potentially hazardous materials, including metals, organic chemical compounds, plastics, and inorganic mineral dusts. The risk of silicosis has been documented for workers of dental laboratories, but not dental supply factories, where the exposures could be expected to be higher. We report in this article five cases of silicosis, four of them with progressive massive fibrosis, in workers from two dental supply factories. This report underlines the need for effective occupational health programs in this type of industrial facilities.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Air Pollutants, Occupational / analysis
Air Pollutants, Occupational / toxicity*
Dental Materials / toxicity*
Dentistry*
Humans
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Occupational Exposure / analysis
Risk Factors
Silicon Dioxide / analysis
Silicon Dioxide / toxicity*
Silicosis / etiology*

Substances

Air Pollutants, Occupational
Dental Materials
Silicon Dioxide