Rapidly progressive silicosis: clinical observations

Abstract

Diseases arising from exposure to industrial aerosols remain an urgent problem and occupy a leading position among all occupational diseases. Scientists present clinical observations demonstrating the development of pneumoconiosis with a relatively short work experience in contact with fibrogenic dust slightly exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations. The rapidly progressing course is characterized by the development of the disease by the type of complicated pneumoconiosis with the formation of nodular fibrosis or an increase in profusion (severity) by more than one subcategory for five years. As a rule, it develops after ten or less years of work experience in contact with high concentrations of quartz dust. Researchers have considered the features of the occurrence and course of silicosis in persons in contact with industrial aerosols with a high mass fraction of silicon dioxide in production conditions.We have analyzed the situations demonstrating the development of pneumoconiosis with a professional experience of less than five years in persons who come into contact with industrial aerosol in low excess of the maximum permissible concentration of quartz dust, but with a very high mass fraction of silicon dioxide. An important condition in the prevention of pneumoconiosis should be mandatory periodic medical examinations with digital radiography of the lungs in two projections. The authors recommend performing computed tomography (CT) of the chest to persons working in contact with fibrogenic dust with a frequency of once every five years due to the fact that CT has a higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting reticular and focal seals in the lungs, as well as initial changes in the pleura. Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with ethical principles and with the voluntary informed consent of the participants.