Abstract

Summary
Silicosis which develops as a results of environmental and occupational silica inhalation is well-known. Although the disease is preventable, it continues to be a problem in our country and other developing countries. Causing silicosis, sandblasting has been a striking occupation last years. We presents two cases who develop silicosis because they worked as sandblasters.
Case 1 and 2: Both cases had worked at a denim factory in İstanbul. Case one had worked for 8 months and case two had worked for 2 years and ten months. Chest X ray and thorax high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) revealed that there are bilateral reticulonodular and nodular opacities at the pulmonary paranchima. Silicosis was diagnosed by examining of open lung biopsy (case one) and transbronchial biopsy (case two).
Because of changes in fashion, denim sandblasting has been occured as an occupation recently years. Workplaces sandblasting denim should be controlled. Even public should be informed of silicosis via media. Thus the disease’s incidence would decrease.

Key words: Denim sandblasting, silicosis

Article Language: Turkish English