Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dust Is in the Air: Effects of Occupational Exposure to Mineral Dust on Lung Function in a 9-year Study

  • Published:
Lung Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Occupational mineral dust exposure is a well-known risk factor for numerous respiratory and systemic diseases. The aim of the present longitudinal study was to assess the influence of work-associated dust exposure on spirometric results. Furthermore, the impact of implementation of stricter limit values for occupational contact with quartz dust on lung function was evaluated.

Methods

Anthropometric data (age, gender, BMI), smoking behavior, and lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, MEF50) from 7,204 medical examinations of 3,229 female and male workers during the years 2002–2010 were examined following Austrian standards for occupational medicine and the guidelines of the European Respiratory Society. Analysis of data was performed using models of multiple linear regression.

Results

Lung function decrease over time was associated with smoking habits and duration of occupational dust exposure. Specifically, occupational quartz exposure negatively influenced the annual lung function parameters (FVC, −6.68 ml; FEV1, −6.71 ml; and MEF50, −16.15 ml/s, all p < 0.001). Thus, an overadditive effect of smoking and work-related contact with quartz was found regarding decline in MEF50 (p < 0.05). Implementation of stricter occupational limit values for dust exposure resulted in a highly significant deceleration of the annual decrease in respiratory function (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Individual smoking habits and occupational dust exposure had a negative impact on lung function. To reduce the risk of loss of respiratory capacity, smoking cessation is especially recommended to workers exposed to quartz dust. Moreover, stricter limit values could prevent chronic occupational damage to the respiratory system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rushton L (2007) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and occupational exposure to silica. Rev Environ Health 22(4):255–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Guha N, Straif K, Benbrahim-Tallaa L (2011) The IARC Monographs on the carcinogenicity of crystalline silica. Med Lav 102(4):310–320

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vacek PM, Verma DK, Graham WG, Callas PW, Gibbs GW (2011) Mortality in Vermont granite workers and its association with silica exposure. Occup Environ Med 68(5):312–318. doi:10.1136/oem.2009.054452

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Mundt KA, Birk T, Parsons W, Borsch-Galetke E, Siegmund K, Heavner K, Guldner K (2011) Respirable crystalline silica exposure-response evaluation of silicosis morbidity and lung cancer mortality in the German porcelain industry cohort. J Occup Environ Med 53(3):282–289. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e31820c2bff

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen W, Bochmann F, Sun Y (2007) Effects of work related confounders on the association between silica exposure and lung cancer: a nested case-control study among Chinese miners and pottery workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 80(4):320–326. doi:10.1007/s00420-006-0137-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Pelucchi C, Pira E, Piolatto G, Coggiola M, Carta P, La Vecchia C (2006) Occupational silica exposure and lung cancer risk: a review of epidemiological studies 1996–2005. Ann Oncol 17(7):1039–1050. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdj125

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lacasse Y, Martin S, Gagne D, Lakhal L (2009) Dose-response meta-analysis of silica and lung cancer. Cancer Causes Control 20(6):925–933. doi:10.1007/s10552-009-9296-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Erren TC, Morfeld P, Glende CB, Piekarski C, Cocco P (2011) Meta-analyses of published epidemiological studies, 1979–2006, point to open causal questions in silica-silicosis-lung cancer research. Med Lav 102(4):321–335

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen W, Liu Y, Wang H, Hnizdo E, Sun Y, Su L, Zhang X, Weng S, Bochmann F, Hearl FJ, Chen J, Wu T (2012) Long-term exposure to silica dust and risk of total and cause-specific mortality in Chinese workers: a cohort study. PLoS Med 9(4):e1001206. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001206

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Calvert GM, Rice FL, Boiano JM, Sheehy JW, Sanderson WT (2003) Occupational silica exposure and risk of various diseases: an analysis using death certificates from 27 states of the United States. Occup Environ Med 60(2):122–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Preller L, van den Bosch LM, van den Brandt PA, Kauppinen T, Goldbohm A (2010) Occupational exposure to silica and lung cancer risk in the Netherlands. Occup Environ Med 67(10):657–663. doi:10.1136/oem.2009.046326

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sauni R, Oksa P, Lehtimaki L, Toivio P, Palmroos P, Nieminen R, Moilanen E, Uitti J (2012) Increased alveolar nitric oxide and systemic inflammation markers in silica-exposed workers. Occup Environ Med 69(4):256–260. doi:10.1136/oemed-2011-100347

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhou T, Rong Y, Liu Y, Zhou Y, Guo J, Cheng W, Wang H, Chen W (2012) Association between proinflammatory responses of respirable silica dust and adverse health effects among dust-exposed workers. J Occup Environ Med 54(4):459–465. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e31824525ab

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Melville AM, Pless-Mulloli T, Afolabi OA, Stenton SC (2010) COPD prevalence and its association with occupational exposures in a general population. Eur Respir J 36(3):488–493. doi:10.1183/09031936.00038309

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Steliga MA, Dresler CM (2011) Epidemiology of lung cancer: smoking, secondhand smoke, and genetics. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 20(4):605–618. doi:10.1016/j.soc.2011.07.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kuempel ED, Wheeler MW, Smith RJ, Vallyathan V, Green FH (2009) Contributions of dust exposure and cigarette smoking to emphysema severity in coal miners in the United States. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 180(3):257–264. doi:10.1164/rccm.200806-840OC

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Leung CC, Yew WW, Law WS, Tam CM, Leung M, Chung YW, Cheung KW, Chan KW, Fu F (2007) Smoking and tuberculosis among silicotic patients. Eur Respir J 29(4):745–750. doi:10.1183/09031936.00134706

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kurihara N, Wada O (2004) Silicosis and smoking strongly increase lung cancer risk in silica-exposed workers. Ind Health 42(3):303–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mets OM, Rooyackers J, van Amelsvoort-van de Vorst S, Mali WP, de Jong PA, Prokop M (2012) Increased micronodule counts are more common in occupationally silica dust-exposed smokers than in control smokers. J Occup Environ Med. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e31824e6784

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hochgatterer K, Hutter H, Moshammer H, Angerschmid C (2011) Lung function in dust-exposed workers. Pneumologie 65:459–464

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) (2002) Recommendations from scientific committee on occupational exposure limits for silica, crystalline (respirable dust). Brussels: SCOEL committee on occupational exposure limits, report no. SCOEL/SSUM/94 final

  22. Grenzwerteverordung (2011) MAK-Werte für biologisch inerte Schwebstoffe. Available at http://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=20001418. Accessed 14 Mar 2013

  23. Goodyear MD, Krleza-Jeric K, Lemmens T (2007) The declaration of Helsinki. BMJ 335(7621):624–625. doi:10.1136/bmj.39339.610000.BE

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Verordnung des Bundesministers für Arbeit und Soziales über die Gesundheitsüberwachung am Arbeitsplatz (2006) BGBl.II Nr. 27/1997. Available at http://www.arbeitsinspektion.gv.at/. Accessed 14 Mar 2013

  25. Miller MR, Crapo R, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, Enright P, van der Grinten CP, Gustafsson P, Jensen R, Johnson DC, MacIntyre N, McKay R, Navajas D, Pedersen OF, Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Wanger J (2005) General considerations for lung function testing. Eur Respir J 26(1):153–161. doi:10.1183/09031936.05.00034505

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Moshammer H, Hoek G, Luttmann-Gibson H, Neuberger MA, Antova T, Gehring U, Hruba F, Pattenden S, Rudnai P, Slachtova H, Zlotkowska R, Fletcher T (2006) Parental smoking and lung function in children: an international study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 173(11):1255–1263. doi:10.1164/rccm.200510-1552OC

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lan CC, Su CP, Chou LL, Yang MC, Lim CS, Wu YK (2012) Association of body mass index with exercise cardiopulmonary responses in lung function-matched patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Heart Lung 41(4):374–381. doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2012.02.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Humerfelt S, Eide GE, Gulsvik A (1998) Association of years of occupational quartz exposure with spirometric airflow limitation in Norwegian men aged 30–46 years. Thorax 53(8):649–655

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Neghab M, Mohraz MH, Hassanzadeh J (2011) Symptoms of respiratory disease and lung functional impairment associated with occupational inhalation exposure to carbon black dust. J Occup Health 53(6):432–438

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Peters S, Kromhout H, Olsson AC, Wichmann HE, Bruske I, Consonni D, Landi MT, Caporaso N, Siemiatycki J, Richiardi L, Mirabelli D, Simonato L, Gustavsson P, Plato N, Jockel KH, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Boffetta P, Brennan P, Zaridze D, Cassidy A, Lissowska J, Szeszenia-Dabrowska N, Rudnai P, Fabianova E, Forastiere F, Bencko V, Foretova L, Janout V, Stucker I, Dumitru RS, Benhamou S, Bueno-de-Mesquita B, Kendzia B, Pesch B, Straif K, Bruning T, Vermeulen R (2012) Occupational exposure to organic dust increases lung cancer risk in the general population. Thorax 67(2):111–116. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-200716

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Checkoway H, Ray RM, Lundin JI, Astrakianakis G, Seixas NS, Camp JE, Wernli KJ, Fitzgibbons ED, Li W, Feng Z, Gao DL, Thomas DB (2011) Lung cancer and occupational exposures other than cotton dust and endotoxin among women textile workers in Shanghai. China Occup Environ Med 68(6):425–429. doi:10.1136/oem.2010.059519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tse LA, Yu IS, Au JS, Qiu H, Wang XR (2011) Silica dust, diesel exhaust, and painting work are the significant occupational risk factors for lung cancer in nonsmoking Chinese men. Br J Cancer 104(1):208–213. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6606006

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Mirabelli MC, London SJ, Charles LE, Pompeii LA, Wagenknecht LE (2012) Occupation and three-year incidence of respiratory symptoms and lung function decline: the ARIC Study. Respir Res 13:24. doi:10.1186/1465-9921-13-24

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Dahmann D, Bauer HD, Stoyke G (2008) Retrospective exposure assessment for respirable and inhalable dust, crystalline silica and arsenic in the former German uranium mines of SAG/SDAG Wismut. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81(8):949–958. doi:10.1007/s00420-007-0287-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Sogl M, Taeger D, Pallapies D, Bruning T, Dufey F, Schnelzer M, Straif K, Walsh L, Kreuzer M (2012) Quantitative relationship between silica exposure and lung cancer mortality in German uranium miners, 1946–2003. Br J Cancer 107(7):1188–1194. doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.374

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Griffith DE, Garcia JG, Dodson RF, Levin JL, Kronenberg RS (1993) Airflow obstruction in nonsmoking, asbestos- and mixed dust-exposed workers. Lung 171(4):213–224

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Boggia B, Farinaro E, Grieco L, Lucariello A, Carbone U (2008) Burden of smoking and occupational exposure on etiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in workers of Southern Italy. J Occup Environ Med 50(3):366–370. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e318162f601

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Fell AK, Sikkeland LI, Svendsen MV, Kongerud J (2010) Airway inflammation in cement production workers. Occup Environ Med 67(6):395–400. doi:10.1136/oem.2009.047852

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Harber P, Tashkin DP, Simmons M, Crawford L, Hnizdo E, Connett J (2007) Effect of occupational exposures on decline of lung function in early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 176(10):994–1000. doi:10.1164/rccm.200605-730OC

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Jaen A, Zock JP, Kogevinas M, Ferrer A, Marin A (2006) Occupation, smoking, and chronic obstructive respiratory disorders: a cross sectional study in an industrial area of Catalonia. Spain Environ Health 5:2. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-5-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Rushton L (2007) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and occupational exposure to silica. Rev Environ Health 22(4):255–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Hnizdo E, Vallyathan V (2003) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to occupational exposure to silica dust: a review of epidemiological and pathological evidence. Occup Environ Med 60(4):237–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ulvestad B, Lund MB (2003) Increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among tunnel construction workers. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 123(16):2292–2295

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Weinmann S, Vollmer WM, Breen V, Heumann M, Hnizdo E, Villnave J, Doney B, Graziani M, McBurnie MA, Buist AS (2008) COPD and occupational exposures: a case-control study. J Occup Environ Med 50(5):561–569. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181651556

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Fenoglio I, Fonsato S, Fubini B (2003) Reaction of cysteine and glutathione (GSH) at the freshly fractured quartz surface: a possible role in silica-related diseases? Free Radic Biol Med 35(7):752–762

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Christensen SW, Bonde JP, Omland O (2008) A prospective study of decline in lung function in relation to welding emissions. J Occup Med Toxicol 3:6. doi:10.1186/1745-6673-3-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Jafari AJ, Assari MJ (2004) Respiratory effects from work-related exposure to welding fumes in Hamadan. Iran Arch Environ Health 59(3):116–120. doi:10.3200/AEOH.59.3.116-120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Loukzadeh Z, Sharifian SA, Aminian O, Shojaoddiny-Ardekani A (2009) Pulmonary effects of spot welding in automobile assembly. Occup Med (Lond) 59(4):267–269. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Szram J, Schofield SJ, Cosgrove MP, Cullinan P (2012) Welding, longitudinal lung function decline and chronic respiratory symptoms: a systematic review of cohort studies. Eur Respir J. doi:10.1183/09031936.00206011

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Stipe CB, Miller AL, Brown J, Guevara E, Cauda E (2012) Evaluation of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for measurement of silica on filter samples of coal dust. Appl Spectrosc 66(11):1286–1293. doi:10.1366/12-06671

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Miller AL, Drake PL, Murphy NC, Noll JD, Volkwein JC (2012) Evaluating portable infrared spectrometers for measuring the silica content of coal dust. J Environ Monit 14(1):48–55. doi:10.1039/c1em10678c

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Nkosi TM, Parent ME, Siemiatycki J, Rousseau MC (2012) Socioeconomic position and lung cancer risk: how important is the modeling of smoking? Epidemiology 23(3):377–385. doi:10.1097/EDE.0b013e31824d0548

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Dimich-Ward H, Beking K, DyBuncio A, Chan-Yeung M, Du W, Karlen B, Camp PG, Kennedy SM (2012) Occupational exposure influences on gender differences in respiratory health. Lung 190(2):147–154. doi:10.1007/s00408-011-9344-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Johannessen A, Eagan TM, Omenaas ER, Bakke PS, Gulsvik A (2010) Socioeconomic risk factors for lung function decline in a general population. Eur Respir J 36(3):480–487. doi:10.1183/09031936.00186509

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Bergdahl IA, Toren K, Eriksson K, Hedlund U, Nilsson T, Flodin R, Jarvholm B (2004) Increased mortality in COPD among construction workers exposed to inorganic dust. Eur Respir J 23(3):402–406

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank David Jungwirth for expert assistance with graphic illustrations.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Occupational Health Perg GmbH, Perg, Austria

    Karl Hochgatterer

  2. Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Hanns Moshammer & Daniela Haluza

Authors
  1. Karl Hochgatterer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hanns Moshammer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniela Haluza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Haluza.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hochgatterer, K., Moshammer, H. & Haluza, D. Dust Is in the Air: Effects of Occupational Exposure to Mineral Dust on Lung Function in a 9-year Study. Lung 191, 257–263 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-013-9463-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-013-9463-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation