Long-term follow-up of young denim sandblasters in Turkey

Background Denim sandblasting-induced silicosis is a recently identified occupational disease. Aims In this study, we aimed to evaluate pulmonary and radiological changes in the long-term follow-up of former denim sandblasters. Methods Ninety former denim sandblasters were followed from 2007 to 2018. Chest X-rays were evaluated according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification. Baseline and final data were compared. Silicosis prevalence, radiological progression and pulmonary dysfunction were evaluated. Results All of the sandblasters were men. Their mean age was 34 +/- 5 years, mean follow-up time was 9 +/- 2 years (mean time since initial exposure: 17 +/- 2 years) and mean duration of exposure was 34 +/- 25 months. Rates of radiological progression and decline in pulmonary during follow-up were 63% and 39%, respectively. During follow-up, all patients were diagnosed with silicosis. All workers who were ILO category 0 at baseline (n = 26, 29%) progressed to higher categories. The number of patients in Category 2 doubled and the number of patients in Category 3 increased by 2.5-fold. Eleven patients developed new large opacities and the number of patients with category C opacity increased from 4 to 13. Exposure time was an independent determinant of radiological progression (OR: 1.0, P = 0.036) and decline in pulmonary function (OR: 1.3, P = 0.019). Conclusion The prevalence of silicosis in denim sandblasters increases steadily even after exposure is discontinued. Radiological progression was observed in a higher proportion of workers than a decline in lung function. Duration of exposure was the major determinant of disease progression in our study.

Journal

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE-OXFORD

Year

2022

Volume

72

Issue

6

Pages

403-410

ISSN

0962-7480

eISSN

1471-8405

DOI

10.1093/occmed/kqac043

WoS UID

WOS:000817225700001