Lung cancer silica

Toxicology. Crystalline silica causes silicosis and is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. 

Holland LM Crystalline silica and lung cancer A review of recent experimental evidence. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 12 224—237, 1990... 

Saffiotti U, Stinson SF. 1988. Lung cancer induction by crystalline silica Relationships to granulomatous reactions and host factors. J Environ Sci Health 6 197-222. 

Crystalline silica Dusts generated by mining, other industrial activities. Dusts produced by erosion of friable, silica-rich rocks (i.e., some ash flow tuffs, diatomaceous earth deposits). Inhalation. Silicosis, industrial bronchitis with airflow limitation, progressive massive Hbrosis. Associated illnesses include opportunistic infections, silica nethropathy, lung cancer. 

Silicosis, a form of pulmonary fibrosis, is the primary health problem resulting from inhalation exposure to particles of crystalline silica (SSDC, 1988 NIOSH, 2002 Castranova, 2000 Castranova and VaUyathan, 2000). Other diseases associated with occupational inhalation exposure to crystalline silica include lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, nonmalignant respiratory disease, auto-immune related diseases (such as rheumatioid arthritis), renal diseases, and (as a complication of silicosis) increased risk of bacterial or fungal infections such as tuberculosis. Skin granulomas or obstructive lymphopathies may result from dermal exposure and uptake of silica particles (NIOSH, 2002). 

Smoking is a well-known trigger of respiratory diseases such as emphysema and lung cancer. Workers who smoke and who are exposed to excessive levels of particulates such as silica or asbestos have a combined lung cancer risk that is greater than for smoking or particle exposure alone (Holland and Smith, 2001). As a result, smoking (and exposure to other environmental pollutants) can make it difficult, but not impossible,... 

In addition to the disease process of silicosis, inhalation of crystalline silica has been associated with other diseases such as bronchitis and tuberculosis. There is also some indication of an association with lung cancer. 

Molecular Mechanisms of Asbestos- and Silica-Induced Lung Cancer... 

It is apparent from several studies reported in the literature that both asbestos and crystalline silica can induce lung cancer, probably through a multistage process, by certain common and/or divergent mechanisms. BoA asbestos and crystalline silica can cause DNA damage, altered gene expression, and activation of signaling pathways... 

Safliotti, U., Lung cancer induction by crystalline silica. Prog. Clin. Biol. Res., 374, 51-69,... 

Kuempel, E.D., Tran, C.L., Bailer, A.J., Porter, D.W., Hubbs, A.F., and Castranova, V., Biological and statistical approaches to predicting human lung cancer risk from silica, J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. Oncol., 20, 15-32,2001. 

In addition, it is worth mentioning that aerosols play an important role for occupational diseases. Lung cancer silicosis, affected by silica dioxide and quartz, or the dust lung by mining-workers are further prominent examples. 

Chromatographic Techniques Chromatographic techniques play a key role in the purification of chemicals in many laboratories in varied forms, such as column chromatography and thin layer chromatography (TLC). These techniques make use of adsorbents, such as silica gel and alumina, and are often in powdered forms that can cause irritation to skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. Silica gel is amorphous silica and does not exhibit the adverse effects of its hazardous relative crystalline silica that can cause silicosis and lung cancer upon prolonged exposure. Column and TLC separations present opportunities for exposure to solvents and are best carried out in a chemical hood. 

Lin W, Huang YW, Zhou XD et al (2006) In vitro toxicity of silica nanoparticles in human lung cancer cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 217 252-259... 

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