Silica exposure and autoimmune diseases

[Guest guest]

Our silent sister sent several important artiles . . .

Here's one. - Rogene

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Am J Ind Med. 1995 Nov;28(5):603-8.

Silica exposure and autoimmune diseases.

Steenland K, Goldsmith DF.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,

Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA.

There have long been case reports linking silica

exposure to a variety of autoimmune diseases (systemic

sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, chronic renal

disease). Evidence of this association in larger

epidemiologic studies has been increasing in the last

decade. We summarize this evidence here, and present

some plausible mechanisms which have been discussed in

the literature. The link between silica exposure and

autoimmune disease may have been missed in cohort

mortality studies because autoimmune diseases are

rarely underlying causes of death. Similarly,

case-control studies of autoimmune diseases have often

failed to consider occupational exposure to silica.

Further research is needed in occupationally exposed

populations to verify this association. The link

between respirable silica exposure and autoimmune

disease may have some bearing on the possible

association between silicone breast implants and

autoimmune disease, although the nature of the silica

involved is quite different in the two situations.

PMID: 8561170 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]