Lung diseases associated with occupational exposure to artificial mineral fibers: systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: man-made mineral fibers represent a group of manufactured fibers used mainly for thermal and acoustic insulation and generally in the field of construction. Because these fibers have a similar structure to asbestos, it is a reason to think thatthey can develop pulmonary pathologies such as cancer, resulting in the interest to study the occupational exposure to these fibers and their possible consequences on the worker’s health.

Method: Systematic review of scientific articles through bibliographic search in MEDLINE (PUBMED), SCOPUS, EMBASE, WOS, Cochrane Library Plus, IBECS, LILACS and CISDOC, published over the last 10 years (2.008 to 2.018).

Results: 137 references were retrieved, 8 articles remained after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. According to this, there are 2 cohort studies, 5 cases and controls and 1 cross-sectional study. In some of these studies, a positive but not statistically significant association was found between occupational exposure to man-made mineral fibers and the development of pulmonary pathology.

Conclusions: there is not enough scientific evidence to support a direct relationship between occupational exposure to man-made mineral fibers and its implications in the development of bronchopulmonary pathologies, therefore it is necessary to conduct more long-term studies that provide evidence on this subject, in view of the large number of workers exposed to these fibers.