A study of over 1200 workers from the artificial stone benchtop industry in Victoria investigated the prevalence of clinical autoimmune disease. While autoimmune disorders are multifactorial, occupational exposures have long been implicated, including respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
Stone benchtop industry workers in Victoria were offered free screening for silicosis and related disorders. Symptoms or diagnoses of autoimmune disease were evaluated by questionnaire and blood tests taken for rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs). These are indicators of autoimmune disease.
The researchers, from the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, found among 1238 workers (93.3 per cent male) screened from 2019 to 2021, 0.9 per cent were confirmed with autoimmune disease.
Among those without clinical disease, 24.6 per cent had detectable ANAs, 4.6 per cent detectable ENAs and 2.6 per cent were positive for RF. Silicosis was diagnosed in 253 workers (24.3 per cent of those with diagnostic information available). The likelihood of positive autoantibodies increased with age; smoking; higher exposure to RCS and silicosis diagnosis.
The researchers concluded that the proportion of workers with detectable ANAs or ENAs was considerably higher than the 5–9 per cent expected in the general population. They said that long-term follow-up is needed to estimate incidence. They recommended that rheumatologists explore occupational history in new cases of autoimmune disease. They also concluded, “Screening for autoimmune disease is indicated in workers exposed to RCS as these individuals need specialised management and may be entitled to compensation.”
Source: Dunya Tomic, Ryan F Hoy, et al Autoimmune diseases, autoantibody status and silicosis in a cohort of 1238 workers from the artificial stone benchtop industry [Abstract]https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2024-109526 Read more on Silica on our website.