Silicosis in dental laboratory workers
A risk profession
Keywords:
SILICOSIS, OCCUPATIONAL RISKSAbstract
Four clinical cases of lung silicosis are reported, diagnosed at the Thorax Institute of the School of Medicine in dental laboratories workers from 2005 through 2009. All four cases showed different clinical presentations, severity and evolution. Exposure to silica dust was identified from a thorough analysis of the work background information. In all cases poor environmental health stands out. The purpose of this study is to warn our community about the development of the prevention measures analyzed. To that end, discussion and information for a have been set up with workers involved in this productive process. The multidisciplinary approach by the Occupational Health Department and the Department of Neumology has enabled a deeper analysis of the complex relations between the work process and the health-disease process, evidencing the so needed multi-sectorial intervention to prevent risks described.
References
(2) Seguro de accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales. Ley Nº 16074 (17 de enero de 1990). Disponible en: http://www.parlamento.gub.uy/leyes/AccesoTextoLey.asp?Ley=16074&Anchor=. Consulta: 22 junio 2010.
(3) Convenio N° 121 (OIT): relativo a las prestaciones en caso de accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales. Ley Nº 14.116 (9 mayo 1973). Disponible en: http://www.parlamento. gub.uy/leyes/AccesoTextoLey.asp?Ley=14116&Anchor=. Consulta: 22 junio 2010.
(4) Grolero ML, Vallve B, Ramón A, Anido T, Lavecchia W, González Bizzarri S, et al. Estudio de prevalencia de silicosis en una fábrica de vidrios. Rev Med Urug 1989; 5(2): 78-83.
(5) Banks DE, Morring KL, Boehlecke BA, Althouse RB, Merchant JA. Silicosis in silica flour workers. Am Rev Respir Dis 1981; 124(4):445-50.
(6) Código Nacional sobre Enfermedades y Eventos Sanitarios de Notificación Obligatoria. Decreto Nº 64/004 (18 feb. 2004). Disponible en: http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cd38/Uruguay/D64-04.pdf. Consulta: 24 junio 2010.
(7) Karaman Eyüboðlu C, Itil O, Gülþen A, Kargi A, Cimrin A. Dental technician’s pneumoconiosis; a case report. Tuberk Toraks 2008; 56(2): 204-9.
(8) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Silicosis in dental laboratory technicians–five states, 1994-2000. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Re. 2004; 53(9): 195-7.
(9) Iannello S, Camuto M, Cantarella S, Cavaleri A, Ferriero P, Leanza A, et al. Rheumatoid syndrome associated with lung interstitial disorder in a dental technician exposed to ceramic silica dust: a case report and critical literature review. Clin Rheumatol 2002; 21(1): 76-81.
(10) Kim TS, Kim HA, Heo Y, Park Y, Park CY, Roh YM. Level of silica in the respirable dust inhaled by dental technicians with demonstration of respirable symptoms. Ind Health 2002; 40(3): 260-5.
(11) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Silicosis mortality, prevention, and control-United States, 1968-2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005; 54(16): 401-5.
(12) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Silicosis: primary occupations associated with silica exposure of silicosis cases–Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, 1993-2002. Disponible en: http://www2a.cdc.gov/drds/worldreportdata/pdf/2007T03-15a.pdf. Consulta: 20 agosto 2009.
(13) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Silicosis in dental laboratory technicians–five states, 1994-2000. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2004; 53(9):195-7.
(14) United States. The State of New Jersey. Department of Health & Senior Services. Occupational Health Surveillance Program. What Dental Technicians need to know about silicosis. Disponible en: http://nj.gov/health/surv/documents/dent_bro.pdf. Consulta: 20 agosto 2009.
(15) Montenegro FLB, Manetta CE. Doenças adquiridas pelo técnico em prótese dentária: medidas que visam um futuro mais saudável. Congresso Paulista de Técnicos em Prótese Dentária, 5. Atualizaçäo em prótese dentária: inter-relaçäo clínica/laboratório. Säo Paulo, Santos, 24 set. 1997: 3-12.
(16) United States. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Exposición a la sílice cristalina: información sobre riesgos de la salud para los empleados de la industria general. OSHA 3178, 2002 (Revised). Disponible en: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3178. html. Consulta: 20 agosto 2009.
(17) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Construction Workers. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 1996; No. 96-112. Disponible en: http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/96-112sp.html. [Consulta: 20 ago. 2009].
(18) Uruguay. Ministerio de Salud Pública. Vigilancia sanitaria de trabajadores expuestos a factores de riesgo laborales. Ordenanza Nº 145 (18 mar. 2009). Disponible en: http://www.msp.gub.uy/uc_2834_1.html. Consulta: 24 junio 2010.