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Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico

«Severe silicosis due to diatomaceous earth in dental alginate: a necropsy study» BACKGROUND: Severe silicosis from occupational exposure to calcined diatomaceous earth has been observed in the past, due to the high-temperature transformation of amorphous silica in crystalline phases, mainly cristob...

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Autores principales: Barbieri, Pietro Gino, Somigliana, Anna, Carradori, Giorgio
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Mattioli 1885 srl 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7809946/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32624564
http://dx.doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v111i3.9742
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author Barbieri, Pietro Gino
Somigliana, Anna
Carradori, Giorgio
author_facet Barbieri, Pietro Gino
Somigliana, Anna
Carradori, Giorgio
author_sort Barbieri, Pietro Gino
collection PubMed
description «Severe silicosis due to diatomaceous earth in dental alginate: a necropsy study» BACKGROUND: Severe silicosis from occupational exposure to calcined diatomaceous earth has been observed in the past, due to the high-temperature transformation of amorphous silica in crystalline phases, mainly cristobalite. In dental alginate production and use a silica exposure may be underestimated. Objectives: To describe the clinical picture, the scenario and pattern of occupational exposure to silica and the corresponding necroscopic findings of a case of silicosis in a worker engaged in the production of alginates for dental use. METHODS: A commercial sample of calcinated diatomaceous earth and necroscopic lung samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the quali-quantitative determination of crystalline silica. Material safety data sheets (MSDSs) of diatomaceous earth produced in 2002 and 2018 were examined to assess the information content on silicosis risk. Clinical findings and post-mortem examinations of the worker are evaluated. RESULTS: A cristobalite concentration of 36% (wt/wt) was determined in the diatomaceous earth sample and a large amount of diatom fragments were observed in lung samples. The DRX spectra indicated the presence of cristobalite either in the bulk sample or in the lung tissues. The MSDS dated 2002 reported the presence of SLC up to 63% with cristobalite concentrations <60%, and the resulting risk of silicosis, while the MSDS dated 2018 and referred to a commercial product currently on the market indicated a concentration of cristobalite <1% and no risk of silicosis. The worker was suffering from a severe silicosis, histologically confirmed by necropsy. CONCLUSION: The present case-study revealed that the risk of silicosis from calcined diatomaceous earths used to produce dental alginates has been ignored. The lack of engineering controls and personal protection measures led to a high cristobalite lung burden, consistent with the development of a severe silicosis that were a contributing factor of death. A MSDS of a commercial product currently on the market does not report this serious hazard.
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spelling pubmed-78099462021-01-29 Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico Barbieri, Pietro Gino Somigliana, Anna Carradori, Giorgio Med Lav Original Article «Severe silicosis due to diatomaceous earth in dental alginate: a necropsy study» BACKGROUND: Severe silicosis from occupational exposure to calcined diatomaceous earth has been observed in the past, due to the high-temperature transformation of amorphous silica in crystalline phases, mainly cristobalite. In dental alginate production and use a silica exposure may be underestimated. Objectives: To describe the clinical picture, the scenario and pattern of occupational exposure to silica and the corresponding necroscopic findings of a case of silicosis in a worker engaged in the production of alginates for dental use. METHODS: A commercial sample of calcinated diatomaceous earth and necroscopic lung samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the quali-quantitative determination of crystalline silica. Material safety data sheets (MSDSs) of diatomaceous earth produced in 2002 and 2018 were examined to assess the information content on silicosis risk. Clinical findings and post-mortem examinations of the worker are evaluated. RESULTS: A cristobalite concentration of 36% (wt/wt) was determined in the diatomaceous earth sample and a large amount of diatom fragments were observed in lung samples. The DRX spectra indicated the presence of cristobalite either in the bulk sample or in the lung tissues. The MSDS dated 2002 reported the presence of SLC up to 63% with cristobalite concentrations <60%, and the resulting risk of silicosis, while the MSDS dated 2018 and referred to a commercial product currently on the market indicated a concentration of cristobalite <1% and no risk of silicosis. The worker was suffering from a severe silicosis, histologically confirmed by necropsy. CONCLUSION: The present case-study revealed that the risk of silicosis from calcined diatomaceous earths used to produce dental alginates has been ignored. The lack of engineering controls and personal protection measures led to a high cristobalite lung burden, consistent with the development of a severe silicosis that were a contributing factor of death. A MSDS of a commercial product currently on the market does not report this serious hazard. Mattioli 1885 srl 2020 2020-06-26 /pmc/articles/PMC7809946/ /pubmed/32624564 http://dx.doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v111i3.9742 Text en Copyright: © 2020 ACTA BIO MEDICA SOCIETY OF MEDICINE AND NATURAL SCIENCES OF PARMA http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
spellingShingle Original Article
Barbieri, Pietro Gino
Somigliana, Anna
Carradori, Giorgio
Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
title Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
title_full Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
title_fullStr Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
title_full_unstemmed Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
title_short Silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
title_sort silicosi severa da terre di diatomee nella produzione di alginato ad uso odontoiatrico: uno studio necroscopico
topic Original Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7809946/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32624564
http://dx.doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v111i3.9742
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