Silica-Related Articles Published This Month in Leading Medical Journals Around the Globe

Silica Exposure and Systemic Vasculitis

Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives 2003 Dec;111(16):1933-8

Author: K.B. Mulloy

The author documents a case of exposure to crystalline silica among Department of Energy employees that occurred in a few of the department's facilities.

This particular case involves a 63-year-old man who worked for 30 years as a DOE weapons testing technician and later developed leukocytoclastic vasculitis, marked by a painful macular skin lesion.

According to the report, crystalline silica exposure has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and some small vessel vasculitides.

Workers exposed to silica dust …