2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP01.01. Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk: A Review of Cut-off Points

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This study aimed to review the cut-off points for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure that are associated with the risk of mortality and development of lung cancer. The researchers conducted a literature search in PubMed for cohort and case-control studies published after 2004 that assessed different categories of RCS exposure and reported relative risks (RR), odds ratios (OR), or hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). They also performed a Google search to find the exposure limits established by various international organizations related to occupational health.<br /><br />The study included twenty studies with a total of 280,894 subjects. Thirteen studies assessed the risk of lung cancer mortality associated with RCS exposure, while seven studies assessed the incidence of lung cancer. Most of the studies were conducted in men, and in most studies that assessed the risk of lung cancer mortality, the risks were not significant in most exposure categories.<br /><br />However, one study found a significant risk of lung cancer mortality in men at a cumulative exposure of 10 mg/m3-years, and another study found a significant hazard ratio from an exposure of 2.6 mg/m3-years. In most studies estimating lung cancer risk, the effect measures were not significant, but a recent study with a large sample size found significant odds ratios for all exposure categories.<br /><br />The exposure limits for RCS were found to vary across different countries, with most countries setting the limit at 0.05 mg/m3 for an 8-hour day. Other countries have set limits of 0.1 mg/m3 and 0.025 mg/m3.<br /><br />Overall, there is a great variation in RCS exposure levels between studies and countries. While high exposure levels are significantly related to lung cancer risk in some studies, it is not possible to establish a consensus exposure limit based on the results obtained. However, there seems to be a consensus that at limits below 0.1 mg/m3, the risk of lung cancer is low.

Asset Subtitle

Julia Rey Brandariz

Meta Tag

Speaker Julia Rey Brandariz

Topic Risk Factors, Risk Reduction & Tobacco Control

Keywords

Respirable crystalline silica

Cut-off points

Exposure limits

Mortality risk

Lung cancer risk

Literature search

PubMed

Relative risks

Odds ratios

Hazard ratios