Environmental Silica Dust Exposure and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa

Tahira Kootbodien, Samantha Iyaloo, Kerry Wilson, Nisha Naicker, Spo Kgalamono, Tanya Haman, Angela Mathee and David Rees
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Tahira Kootbodien: National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
Samantha Iyaloo: National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
Kerry Wilson: National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
Nisha Naicker: National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
Spo Kgalamono: National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
Tanya Haman: Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Angela Mathee: School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa
David Rees: National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Occupational crystalline silica dust exposure is associated with an elevated risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, there is less evidence for an association with environmental silica dust exposure. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 310 participants was conducted in an exposed community living within 2 km of gold mine tailings and an unexposed population residing more than 10 km from the nearest gold mine tailing. Chest radiographs ( n = 178) were read for PTB, past or current, by three readers. Results: Past or current PTB was radiologically identified in 14.4% (95%CI 9.2–21.8) in the exposed and 7.5% (95%CI 2.8–18.7) in the unexposed groups. Multivariate logistic regression models suggested that PTB prevalence was independently associated with exposure to second-hand smoke (OR = 8.13, 95%CI 1.16–57.22), a lower body mass index (OR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.80–0.98), previous diagnosis and treatment of PTB (OR = 8.98, 95%CI 1.98–40.34), and exposure to dust in the workplace from sand, construction, and/or mining industries (OR = 10.2, 95%CI 2.10–50.11). Conclusion: We found no association between PTB and environmental exposure to gold mine tailing dust. However, workplace silica dust exposure is a significant risk factor for PTB in South Africa, and PTB patients of working age should be screened for silica exposure.

Keywords: pulmonary tuberculosis; occupational dust exposure; silica; silica-related tuberculosis; occupational history (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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