Silica Dust and Cancer
Prevention policy
Silica Dust and Lung Cancer
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) (silica dust) is classified as a Group 1 definite human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).1 Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is directly linked to developing lung cancer.2 It is estimated that over 500,000 Australian workers are exposed to RCS at work each year.3 From a working cohort of 18.7 million adult Australians, it is estimated that 10,390 will develop lung cancer over their lifetime due to their occupational exposure to RCS.3
Silicosis
Silicosis is another major health risk linked to RCS.4 Silicosis is a group of occupational lung diseases that occur when exposure to RCS particles causes fibrosis and permanent damage to the lungs.5 The main factor linked to the development of silicosis is the cumulative respiratory exposure to RCS, which depends on both the intensity and duration of the exposure.5 Accurate population data on silicosis prevalence is not available; however, a 2022 study estimated that at least 83,000 silicosis cases will arise in the future as a result of current and past occupational exposure to RCS.3
Other Health Risks
Exposure to RCS is a public health concern, and prevention is essential to safeguarding the health of Australians in the workplace. While some occupational lung diseases such as asbestosis are showing a downward trend, some fibrotic lung diseases, including silicosis, are increasing in Australia.6 In addition to lung cancer and silicosis, exposure to RCS is linked to an increased risk of several other diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), renal diseases and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.5,7
References
- IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Silica, Some Silicates, Coal Dust and para-Aramid Fibrils. vol. 68. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer; 1997.
- Zhou Y, Zhang W, Wu D, Fan Y. The effect of silica exposure on the risk of lung cancer: A meta-analysis. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2023;37(4):e23287.
- Carey R, Fritschi L. The future burden of lung cancer and silicosis from occupational silica exposure in Australia: A preliminary analysis. Curtin University of Technology; 2022.
- Poinen-Rughooputh S, Rughooputh MS, Guo Y, Rong Y, Chen W. Occupational exposure to silica dust and risk of lung cancer: an updated meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):1137.
- Hoy RF, Chambers DC. Silica-related diseases in the modern world. Allergy. 2020;75(11):2805–17.
- Alif S, Glass D, Abramson M, Hoy R, Sim M. Occupational Lung Diseases in Australia. Safe Work Australia; 2020.
- Rubio-Rivas M, Moreno R, Corbella X. Occupational and environmental scleroderma. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rheumatology. 2017;36(3):569–82.
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