Association Between Proinflammatory Responses of Respirable Silica Dust and Adverse Health Effects Among Dust-Exposed Workers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate proinflammatory responses induced by respirable silica dust samples and to analyze the role of those responses in explaining adverse health effects among dust-exposed workers in pottery factoryies and tungsten and tin mines. METHODS: Proinflammatory cytokines of cells were determined after being treated with silica dust samples. Adverse health effects of workers were calculated on the basis of a cohort study. RESULTS: Incidence and mortality of silicosis among tungsten miners were higher than those in other workers. The incidence of interleukin-1β levels was highest in tungsten mines, which was consistent with the incidence of silicosis in tungsten miners. The higher levels of TNF-α and interleukin-6 released from macrophages might be helpful in explaining increased mortalities from lung cancer among tin miners. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-1β could be a sensitive biomarker in predicting fibrogenic potential of silica dust and the risk of silicosis among dust-exposed workers.