File: 120396_sep96_decls12_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 3

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.