We present the case of a 65-year-old woman with progressive systemic sclerosis. For 14 years, she had been occupationally exposed to scouring powder containing crystalline silica. In the skin of the finger of the patient, silica crystals were detected by polarizing microscopy. By means of a special dust measurement at the former working places where scouring powder was used, a silica exposition could be found exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations. Legal recognition of an occupational disease could be achieved in a special procedure by the top expert commission for occupational diseases.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Scleroderma and scleroderma-like diseases caused by environmental pollutants].

For the stimulation of research on scleroderma and the prophylaxis of occupational scleroderma-like diseases and the prevention of iatrogenic injuries, respect., it is important to know the inducing environmental substances. Plastics (vinyl chloride, epoxy resins), solvents (chlorinated, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons), drugs (bleomycin, pentazocine), cocaine (abuse) and contaminated rapeseed oil are more or less able to induce scleroderma-like diseases. Vinyl chloride disease is the best known among these. The toxic oil syndrome represents the most inglorious example of the recent time. Paraffin and silicon can act as adjuvants and induce a progressive systemic sclerosis. In our studies it could be shown, that silica is able to induce not only a silicosis, but also a true progressive systemic sclerosis after long term exposure. Acknowledgment of such cases as an occupational disease is justified and regulated by law in the German Democratic Republic.

Bleomycin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Quartz--its relevance for dermatology].

Next to oxygen silicium is the most common substance of our environment. It occurs mostly in form of quartz (SiO2). In the past silica was usually mentioned in connection with foreign body granulomas in dermatological papers. Recently relations between occupational silica exposure and several diseases were reported. Silica exposure was related to the development of scleroderma, lupus erythematodes and sarcoidosis. Pathogenetic connections may be due to a stimulating effect on fibroblasts and due to immunmodulating properties of silica.

Dermatitis, Occupational↗