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

Kootbodien, Tahira; Iyaloo, Samantha; Wilson, Kerry; Naicker, Nisha; Kgalamono, Spo; Haman, Tanya; Mathee, Angela; Rees, David

doi:10.3390/ijerph16101867

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

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David Rees

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National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa

School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, South Africa

Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa

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Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1867; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101867

Received: 26 March 2019 / Revised: 12 April 2019 / Accepted: 19 April 2019 / Published: 27 May 2019

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Perspectives in Respiratory Diseases)

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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. View Full-Text

Keywords: pulmonary tuberculosis; occupational dust exposure; silica; silica-related tuberculosis; occupational history

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kootbodien, T.; Iyaloo, S.; Wilson, K.; Naicker, N.; Kgalamono, S.; Haman, T.; Mathee, A.; Rees, D. Environmental Silica Dust Exposure and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1867. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101867

AMA Style

Kootbodien T, Iyaloo S, Wilson K, Naicker N, Kgalamono S, Haman T, Mathee A, Rees D. Environmental Silica Dust Exposure and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(10):1867. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101867

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kootbodien, Tahira, Samantha Iyaloo, Kerry Wilson, Nisha Naicker, Spo Kgalamono, Tanya Haman, Angela Mathee, and David Rees. 2019. "Environmental Silica Dust Exposure and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 10: 1867. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101867

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