The study lends some support to the contention that low levels of exposure to crystalline silica can cause lung cancer. Lung cancer risk was increased at levels of exposure below those likely to cause silicosis. If accurate, the findings imply that the current WEL of 0.1 mg.m-3 would not prevent all cases of lung cancer. Risk was detectable only after 25 years of low level exposure. Silicosis status was not reported or corrected for.
Evidence from:
L Preller et al. Occup Environ Med. (2010) Vol.67 p 657-663
Occupational exposure to silica and lung cancer risk in the Netherlands
The current WEL for crystalline silica is 0.1 mg.m-3; equivalent to 4.5 mg.m-3.years for a working lifetime of 45 years. In 1993 HSE estimated that > 90,000 UK workers were exposed to levels in excess of this.