Silicosis caused by sandblasting of jeans in Turkey: a report of two concomitant cases.

Silicosis is a fibrotic disease of the lungs caused by inhalation, retention, and pulmonary reaction to crystalline silica. Crystalline silica exposure is widespread, and silica sand is an inexpensive and versatile component of many manufacturing processes. Its use and the incidence of silicosis are increased in industrial operations by the mechanization and the use of sandblasting, drilling, pulverizing, cutting, grinding tools and other pneumatic equipment. Sandblasting involves forcefully projecting a stream of abrasive particles onto a surface, usually with compressed air or steam. Mostly, silica sand is forced by compressed air onto the target surface. It has been commonly used in abrading metal or glass. Recently, it has been widely and increasingly used in sandblasting of jeans in Turkey. In this report, we present two concomitant cases of silicosis occurring in the same workplace, located in Istanbul, and caused by sandblasting of jeans. To our knowledge, there is no previous description of silicosis in such an occupation.