Active Surveillance of Engineered Stone Workers Facilitates Early Identification of Silicosis: A Discussion of Surveillance of Occupational Lung Diseases

Details

• Alternative Title:
  New Solut
• Personal Author:
  Gandhi, Sheiphali A. ; Heinzerling, Amy ; Flattery, Jennifer ; Fazio, Jane C. ; Alam, Asim ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Harrison, Robert J.
• Description:
  Silicosis in workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica while fabricating engineered stone products is an emerging respiratory health issue. We describe silicosis in engineered stone workers in California and examine clinical features by the source of identification. Cases were identified passively using hospital-based patient discharge data or actively through outreach and medical testing following enforcement investigation. Outcomes were examined based on the source of case identification. We identified 18 cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2020. Cases identified passively compared to other identification methods were associated with lower percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) (| ≤ .01), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (| ≤ .01), and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (| < .01) at the time of diagnosis and were more likely to be identified following death or lung transplant (| = .01). Our experience demonstrates delays in diagnosis and case identification when relying on passive surveillance methods. Enhanced public health surveillance systems can improve the early detection of occupational lung disease and inform future prevention policies.
• Subjects:
  Humans Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Silicon Dioxide Silicosis Watchful Waiting
• Keywords:
  Engineered Stone Occupational Disease Surveillance Occupational Lung Disease Silicosis
• Source:
  New Solut. 33(2-3):119-129
• Pubmed ID:
  37649363
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11268947
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  T42 OH008429/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R13 OH009753/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U60 OH008468/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U19 OH012293/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; F32 CA265103/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R25 OH008802/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  33
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:158913a2b4d7162dcfb03477c196e4c7762372150cc97d4640b617a55d8d09d6e784216736984ec3cf5f932d0bdbb9eab8ea0f257395447fabb360a6e5c5b791
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/159408/cdc_159408_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 766.73 KB ]