SILICA, SILICOSIS AND CANCER IN FINLAND

Approximately 100000 Finnish workers are currently employed in jobs an d tasks that may involve exposure to airborne silica dual. The major i ndustries involved are mining and quarrying; production of glass, cera mics, bricks and other building materials; metal industry, particularl y iron and steel founding; and construction. Over 1500 cases of silico sis have occurred in Finland since 1935. Tuberculosis has been a frequ ent complication of silicosis. Results of studies from several countri es strongly suggest that silica dust also causes lung cancer. The resu lts of the relevant Finnish epidemiologic and industrial hygiene studi es addressing cancer risk and exposure to quartz dust are summarized.