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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-01-2017 | Review

Exposure to silicon carbide and cancer risk: a systematic review

Authors: Paolo Boffetta, Dana Hashim

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Purpose

To conduct a systematic review of epidemiologic studies on risk of cancer from exposure to silicon carbide (SiC).

Methods

We followed established guidelines to search electronic databases for studies on populations exposed to SiC. We conducted meta-analyses when the data justified it.

Results

We identified two studies of SiC production workers and several studies of users. The studies of production workers indicated an increased risk of lung cancer. The increased risk was restricted to workers with elevated dust exposure and, in the most informative study from Norway, was linked to estimated cristobalite exposure, a form of crystalline silica. Increased risk was not linked to SiC particles, once cristobalite exposure was controlled for. Studies of SiC users in various industries did not reveal an increased risk of lung cancer.

Conclusions

The increased risk of lung cancer detected in the SiC production industry appears to be associated with high exposure levels to total dust, including crystalline silica and cristobalite which occurred in this industry in the past decades. It may not persist under current exposure circumstances, characterized by lower levels and use of personal protection equipment. Commercial users of SiC-based products were not affected.

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Title: Exposure to silicon carbide and cancer risk: a systematic review
Authors: Paolo Boffetta
Dana Hashim
Publication date: 01-01-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-016-1169-8

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