Silica, silicosis, and cancer: the role of pulmonary retention Abstract It is difficult to establish a causal relationship between occupational exposure to silica and the development of lung cancer, since workers suffering from silicosis or lung cancer may also have been exposed to other occupational carcinogens. A descriptive study of pulmonary retention in silicotic subjects with and without lung cancer would help identify inorganic occupational contaminants to which exposure may have occurred.Pulmonary retention of particles was measured in controls and approximately 100 workers who received compensation from the CSST, using tissue samples collected at autopsy. The results indicated that silicotic workers with lung cancer retain more metal-rich and non-fibrous particles than do workers without lung cancer. These results support the hypothesis that there is a difference in the mean pulmonary burden of silicotic patients with and without lung cancer. Because of the wide range of concentrations observed, prudence is indicated in suggesting any causal links. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Silica, silicosis, and cancer - Study of lung retention Research Report: R-179 Scientific Publications Pulmonary dust retention in a silicon carbide workerDufresne A., Loosereewanich P., Harrigan M., Sébastien P., Perrault G., Bégin R.Source : American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, vol. 54, no 6, 1993, p. 327-330Experimental pulmonary activity of crystalline silica at the surface of inert silicon carbidePerrault G., Dufresne A., Sébastien P., Bégin R.Source : in International Conference on Occupational Lung Diseases, International Labor Organisation (ILO) (8e, 1993), Hurych J., M. Lesage et A. R. A. David (eds), Proceedings, 1993, p. 1210-1213Asbestos fiber retention and the outcome of asbestosis with or without exposure cessationSébastien P., Dufresne A., Bégin R.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 38, suppl. 1, 1994, p. 675-682Decoding occupational history from total lung particulate analysis : Concordance between physico-chemical analysis and occupational historiesCase B.-W., Dufresne A., Fraser R., Siemiatycki J., Richardson L., Perrault G., Takahashi K.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 38, suppl. 1, 1994, p. 469-482Protocol of lung particulate analysis by electron transmission microscopy for decoding occupational history from lung retentionDufresne A., Case B.-W., Fraser R., Perrault G.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 38, suppl. 1, 1994, p. 503-517Lanthanide particles in the lung of a printerDufresne A., Krier G., Muller J.-F., Case B.-W., Perrault G.Source : The Science of the Total Environment, vol. 151, 1994, p. 249-252Decoding occupational exposure history from total lung tissue analysis: Concordance between physico-chemical analysis and occupational historiesCase B.-W., Dufresne A., Fraser R., Siemiatycki J., Richardson L., Takahashi K., Perrault G.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 38, no 1, 1994, p. 469-482Relation between lung asbestos fiber burden and exposure indices based on job historyTakahashi K., Case B.-W., Dufresne A., Fraser R., Higashi T., Siemiatycki J.Source : Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medecine, vol. 51, no 7, 1994, p. 461-469Retention of asbestos fibres in lungs of workers with asbestosis. Asbestosis and lung cancer, and mesothelioma in asbestos township workersDufresne A., Bégin R., Massé S., Dufresne C-M., Loosereewanich P., Perrault G.Source : Occupational Environmental Medecine, vol. 53, no 12, 1996, p. 801-807Angular and fibrous particles in the lung in relation to job categoryDufresne A., Bégin R., Dion C., Jagirdar J., Rom W. N., Loosereewanich P., Muir D. C. F., Ritchie A. C., Perrault G.Source : The Science of the Total Environment, vol. 206, no 2-3, 1997, p. 127-136Angular and fibrous particles in the lung in relation to job categoryDufresne A., Bégin R., Dion C., Jagirdar J., Rom W. N., Loosereewanich P., Muir D. C. F., Ritchie A. C., Perrault G.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 41, suppl. 1, 1997, p. 368-373Angular and fibrous particles in lung in relation to silica-induced diseasesDufresne A., Bégin R., Dion C., Jagirdar J., Rom W. N., Loosereewanich P., Muir D. C. F., Ritchie A. C., Perrault G.Source : International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 71, no 4, 1998, p. 263-269Tentative explanatory variable of lung dust concentration in gold miners exposed to crystalline siliceDufresne A., Loosereewanich P., Bégin R., Dion C., Ecobichon D., Muir D. C. F., Ritchie A. C., Perrault G.Source : Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology, vol. 8, no 3, 1998, p. 375-398Ferruginous body counts in sputum as an index of past exposure to mineral fibresMcDonald J. C., Sébastien P., Case B.-W., McDonald A. D., Dufresne A.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 36, no 3, 1992, p. 271-282Concentration of quartz in the lungs of silicon carbide workersPerrault G., Dufresne A., Infante-Rivard C., Dion C., Bégin R.Source : in Advances in the prevention of respiratory diseases : Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Occupational Respiratory Diseases (9th : October 13-16, 1997 : Kyoto, Japan), Chiyotani, K., Hosoda, Y. et Aizawa, Y. (eds), 1997, p. 673-675Concentration of quartz in the lungs of silicon carbide workersPerrault G., Dufresne A., Dion C., Bégin R.Source : in Congrès de l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail / AQHSST, (20e : 13-15 mai, 1998, Laval, Canada), 1998 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0091-1140 Status: Completed Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention Team: André Dufresne (Université McGill)Guy Perrault (IRSST)Raymond Bégin (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke)David Muir (McMaster University)