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Occupational Medicine Advance Access published online on October 4, 2006
Occupational Medicine, doi:10.1093/occmed/kql094
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Article

Silicosis in Turkish denim sandblasters

Metin Akgun 1 *, Arzu Mirici 1, Elif Yilmazel Ucar 1, Mecit Kantarci 2, Omer Araz 1, and Metin Gorguner 1

1 Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Chest Diseases Department, Erzurum, Turkey
2 Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Radiology Department, Erzurum, Turkey

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Metin Akgun, E-mail: akgunm{at}gmail.com


  Abstract

Background Sandblasting of jeans in small Turkish workshops has recently been recognized as a cause of silicosis.

Case series Between August 2004 and March 2006, we admitted 16 young men with a history of working in small workplaces producing sandblasted jeans. Of these, 14 presented with respiratory symptoms and the remaining two through awareness of their work colleagues. In the first two cases, open-lung biopsy was required to confirm the diagnosis of silicosis. Later cases were diagnosed through a combination of their work history and the clinical and radiological findings. The mean age at presentation was 23 years with mean duration of employment as a sandblaster being 3 years. The first two cases died and the remainder, except two, are still receiving treatment.

Conclusion The production of sandblasted jeans in small uncontrolled workplaces may entail significant exposure to silica and the development of rapidly fatal silicosis. Urgent action is required to prevent further cases and mortality.

Keywords: Denim; sandblasting; silicosis.
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M. Akgun, O. Araz, I. Akkurt, A. Eroglu, F. Alper, L. Saglam, A. Mirici, M. Gorguner, and B. Nemery
An epidemic of silicosis among former denim sandblasters
Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2008; 32(5): 1295 - 1303.
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