Factors associated with personal differences in response to silica dust exposure were investigated in a preliminary way in Quebec metal mines by studying clinical records, medical and occupational histories for all 203 men compensated for silicosis (‘silicotics’) by the Quebec Workers' Compensation Commission between 1967 and 1977 together with 102 non-silicotic metal miners. A significantly ( P <0.01)larger proportion of the population who had worked in the jobs crushing and drilling (associated with high dust levels) had silicosis in less than 15 yr when compared with those who had worked in other types of jobs. A larger proportion (10.5%) of the miners with silicosis who had less than 25 yr of exposure had a history of immunologic abnormalities when compared with men (6.5%) with silicosis and 25 or more yr of exposure. Also, a significantly ( P <0.001) larger proportion (8.4%) of the silicotics than the non-silicotics (2.0%) had history of immunologic abnormalities, but only 3.5% of the silicotics had a history of the abnormalities prior to the diagnosis of silicosis. Differences in responses of the silicotic and non-silicotic miners appeared to be mostly due to differences in actual exposures coupled with the possible effect of the differences in immune factors.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Afamdi O. Ezenwa (1982) studied this question.