Burden of silica-attributed pneumoconiosis and tracheal, bronchus & lung cancer for global and countries in the national program for the elimination of silicosis, 1990–2019: a comparative study

Abstract Background In industries worldwide, crystalline silica is pervasive and poses risks of pneumoconiosis and respiratory malignancies, with the latter being a knowledge gap in disease burden research that this study aims to address. By integrating both diseases, we also seek to provide an in-depth depiction of the silica-attributed disease burden. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 were extracted to analyze the disease burden due to silica exposure. The trends of age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) from 1990 to 2019, as well as the age-specific number and rate of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 1990 and 2019, were presented using GraphPad Prism software. The average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) on ASMR and ASDR were calculated using joinpoint regression models. Results The global trends of disease burden due to silica exposure from 1990 to 2019 showed a significant decrease, with AAPCs on ASMR and ASDR of -1.22 (-1.38, -1.06) and − 1.18 (-1.30, -1.05), respectively. Vietnam was an exception with an unprecedented climb in ASMR and ASDR in general over the years. The age-specific deaths and DALYs mainly peaked in the age group 60–64. In comparison to 1990, the number of deaths and DALYs became higher after 45 years old in 2019, while their rates stayed consistently lower in 2019. Males experienced an elevated age-specific burden than females. China’s general age-standardized burden of pneumoconiosis and tracheal, bronchus & lung (TBL) cancer ranked at the forefront, along with the highest burden of pneumoconiosis in Chilean males and South African females, as well as the prominent burden of TBL cancer in Turkish males, Thai females, and overall Vietnamese. The age-specific burden of TBL cancer surpassed that of pneumoconiosis, and a delay was presented in the pneumoconiosis pinnacle burden compared to the TBL cancer. Besides, the burden of pneumoconiosis indicated a sluggish growth trend with advancing age. Conclusion Our research highlights the cruciality of continuous enhancements in occupational health legislation for countries seriously suffering from industrial silica pollution and the necessity of prioritizing preventive measures for male workers and elderly retirees

Additional file 1 of Burden of silica-attributed pneumoconiosis and tracheal, bronchus & lung cancer for global and countries in the national program for the elimination of silicosis, 1990–2019: a comparative study

Supplementary Material

Combined effect of silica dust exposure and cigarette smoking on total and cause-specific mortality in iron miners: a cohort study

Abstract Background Both cigarette smoking and long-term exposure to crystalline silica dust were reported to be associated with increased mortality. However, the combined effect of both factors has not been well evaluated. Methods We investigated a retro-prospective cohort of 7,665 workers from one Chinese iron mine with a median follow-up of 42.8 years. Cumulative silica exposure was estimated for each worker by linking work histories with a job-exposure matrix. Cigarette smoking information was collected through face-to-face questionnaires. Hazard ratios (HRs) for total and cause-specific mortality due to silica exposure and smoking were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results A total of 2,814 deaths occurred during 315,772.9 person-years of follow-up. Significantly elevated mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, non-malignant respiratory disease and lung cancer was observed among silica-exposed workers, while elevated mortality from non-malignant respiratory disease and lung cancer was observed among smokers. Combined exposure to silica dust and cigarette smoking elevated the proportion of mortality and accounted for 21.2, 76.0, 35.7 and 81.4% of all causes, non-malignant respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer, respectively. Significant additive joint effects of silica exposure and cigarette smoking on mortality from lung cancer (HR 1.893, 95% CI 0.628 to 3.441) and pneumoconiosis (6.457, 0.725 to 39.114), together with a significant multiplicative joint effect from all causes (1.002, 1.000 to 1.004) were observed. Conclusions The present findings indicated that silica exposure in combination with cigarette smoking accounted for a fraction of extra deaths in our cohort. Our research showed the urgent need for smoking cessation and silica control among iron miners

Potential Effect of Combined Exposure of Crystalline Silica Dust and Cigarette Smoking on the Incidence of Silicosis among Chinese Male Stone Processing Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Silicosis is a progressive and irreversible disease primarily caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust and, to a lesser extent, cigarette smoking. However, further research is needed to validate the potential combined effect of these risk factors on the increased incidence of the disease. Methods: A total of 1688 male workers employed at a Chinese stone processing plant between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019, were included in the study. Cumulative exposure to industrial crystalline silica dust and packyears of smoking were collected through health surveillance, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for silicotic changes due to industrial silica exposure and cigarette smoking were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: Among all participants, a significant exposure–response relationship was observed between long-term exposure to industrial silica dust and radiographic findings resembling silicosis (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.41). However, among middle-aged workers, a weak and statistically insignificant relationship was found between prolonged cigarette smoking and X-ray evidence of lung silicosis (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.53). Furthermore, significant combined effects, exceeding the additive models, were identified in each age group and employment sector (relative risk due to interaction 0.51, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.42). Conclusions: It is critically important to implement effective dust removal measures and tobacco control strategies in order to enhance respiratory health among employees across all age groups in the stone processing industry

Mesothelioma Due to Workplace Exposure: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Current Situation and Future Trends

Background: This article provides an overview of the current status and research progress of mesothelioma. Methods: A total of 2638 documents published from 1 January 2004 to 30 November 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed via Microsoft Office Excel 2019, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and Tableau 2022.2. Results: There was an obvious increase in the number of publications regarding mesothelioma in the last 18 years, with the United States dominating the research field with 715 publications and 23,882 citations, while the University of Turin contributed the most (118). Occupational & Environmental Medicine was the most popular journal (80), with Corrado Magnani being the most prolific author (52) and Michele Carbone obtaining the most citations (4472). “Oncology” and “Health Science of Environment & Occupation” were the two main subjects, while the keywords “asbestos”, “lung cancer”, “gene expression”, “apoptosis”, “survival”, and “cisplatin” were the most popular. Conclusions: The containment of mesothelioma calls for more participation from low- and middle-income countries, and further attention needs to be paid to clinical research

Organismal response to micro(nano)plastics at environmentally relevant concentrations: Toxicity and the underlying mechanisms

The toxic effects of micro(nano)plastics are long-standing, flourishing and fadeless as a research topic because of its' underlying threats to the ecology and human health. Nevertheless, in most of the existing studies, some model organisms are exposed to micro(nano)plastics at a high concentration unlikely to occur in the real environment, and there is limited data available on the impact of micro(nano)plastics at environmentally relevant concentrations (ERC) on environmental organisms. To gain a better insight into micro(nano)plastic toxicity to the environmental organisms, here we integrate the related publications of micro(nano)plastic research at ERC in the past 10 years using a bibliometric analysis, and focus on the analysis of publication trends, research focuses, collaborations, and research status. In addition, we further analyze the 33 final filtered literature, and elucidate the organismal response to micro(nano)plastics at ERC from the perspective of in vivo toxic effects and mechanisms involved. This paper also puts forward some limitations of the current study and some suggestions for future research. Our study may be of great significance in further understanding the ecotoxicity of micro(nano)plastics

Shift work and the relationship with metabolic syndrome in Chinese aged workers.

Shift work is indicated to be associated with adverse metabolic disorders. However, potential effects of shift work on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components have not been well established.In total, 26,382 workers from Dongfeng-Tongji Cohort were included in this study. Information on shift work history was gathered through questionnaires and metabolic traits were measured. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for long-term shift work related with MetS and each component, respectively. Further stratification analysis was performed to detect the differences on MetS between female and male shift workers.Long-term shift work was associated with MetS without adjusting for any confounders. Compared with the group of non-shift work, the multivariate-adjusted ORs (95%CI) of MetS associated with 1-10, 11-20, and ≥20y of shift work were 1.05 (0.95-1.16), 1.14 (1.03-1.26), 1.16 (1.01-1.31), respectively. In female workers, we found a dose-response relationship that every 10 years increase in shift work was associated with a 10% (95% CI: 1%-20%) elevated OR of MetS, while no significant dose-response trend was found among male workers. Furthermore, shift work duration was significantly associated with ORs of high blood pressure (1.07, 1.01-1.13), long waist circumference (1.10, 1.01-1.20) and high glucose levels (1.09, 1.04-1.15). No significant association was observed between shift work and low HDL cholesterol) and raised triglyceride levels.Long-term shift work was associated with metabolic syndrome and the association might differ by gender in retired workers. Applicable intervention strategies are needed for prevention of metabolic disorders for shift workers

ORs of each component of metabolic syndrome according to duration of shift work.

<p>ORs of each component of metabolic syndrome according to duration of shift work.</p

The baseline levels of some medical examination traits of the participants according to shift work.

<p>The baseline levels of some medical examination traits of the participants according to shift work.</p

The characteristics of the study population according to shift work.

<p>The characteristics of the study population according to shift work.</p