File: 120396_sep96_decls12_0002.txt
Page: 0002
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Subject: SILICOSIS AND OPERATIONAL EXPOSURES TO DUST AND SAND Unit: VAR. BUMED Parent Organization: BUMED Box ID: BX303811 Folder Title: VARIOUS NAVAL MESSAGES FOLDER 1 Document Number: 21 Folder SEQ #: 2 UNCLASSIFIED frequently found in women. women may have more dust exposure through their domestic occupational duties, including the prepa- ration of sheep wool for spinning. The condition has been defined as a simple siliceous pneumoc- oniosis and labeled "desert lung syndrome." It is asymptomatic and does not progress with time. The benign nature of the condition has been attributed to the difference between "old dust" and "new dust.,,4 Sand dust particles are "old dust," whose surfaces have been weathered or transformed over time. "New dust" are particles of more recent origin, i.e., freshly frac- tured. Most occupational exposures involve exposure to freshly fractured silica particles. Experimentally, sand dust of two to three microns in diameter injected intraperiotoneally did not produce any peritoneal reaction.4 During World War II, the Armored Medical Research Laboratory conducted some studies an dust exposures. "Studies of dust concentrations, particle size, and mineralogical composition indicated that armored personnel were subject to a negligible hazard of contracting silicosis.117 There are no reports of either silicosis associated with desert exposures or a desert lung syndrome among military personnel or citizens of the United States. From 1966 to the present, there are no MEDLIKE referenc- es for the search combination of silicosis and either military personnel or veterans. The Medical Followup Agency has not participated in any studies of silicosis among World War 11 veterans, nor are they aware of any studies on the subject. Conclusion Exposure to wind-blown sand and dust is a nuisance, and may be an upper airway irritant. There is no evidence in the medical e any long term health riskl especially any risk of silicosis, to military personnel. References 1. Fraser RG, Pare JAP, Pare PD, Fraser RS, Genereux GP. Diagno- sis of Diseases of the Chest (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Company, 1990 (pp. 2282-2307). 2. Landrigan Pi. Silicosis. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews 1987;2:319-326. 3. Parkes WR. occupational Lung Disorders (2nd ed.). Boston, Butterworths, 1983 (pp. 45-53). 4. Bar-Ziv J, Goldberg GM. Simple siliceous pneumoconiosis in Negev Bedouins. Arch Environ Health 1974;29:121-126.| First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Back to Text |