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REVIEW article

Front. Cardiovasc. Med.
Sec. Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1506846

Unveiling the threat of crystalline silica silica on the cardiovascular system. A comprehensive review of the current knowledge

Provisionally accepted
Irina-Luciana Gurzu Irina-Luciana Gurzu 1Claudia- Mariana Handra Claudia- Mariana Handra 2*Isabel Ghita Isabel Ghita 3Marina Ruxandra Otelea Marina Ruxandra Otelea 2
  • 1 Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
  • 2 Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy,, Bucharest, Romania
  • 3 Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: This paper aims to expose the link between occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (SiO2) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, focusing on epidemiological studies that assessed the association between silicosis or SiO2 exposure and CVDs. Specific cardiovascular diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension and pericarditis, were also pointed. Biomarkers commonly used in both silicosis and cardiovascular diseases were reviewed to underline the common pathological pathways. Results: Published epidemiological data revealed a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, and hypertension in silica-exposed workers, even at low exposure levels. SiO2 exposure was linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction, with potential mechanisms involving inflammation and platelet activation. Elevated risk of arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, correlated with occupational silica exposure. Consistent with the pathological mechanisms supporting the SiO2 exposure -CVDs relationship, biomarkers related to NLP3 inflammasome activation, reflecting oxidative stress, and revealing fibrosis have been presented. Conclusion: Actual data support the relationship between occupational SiO2 exposure and various CVDs promoting cardiovascular monitoring in silica-exposed workers. Further studies are needed to identify specific/distinctive biomarkers to improve early detection of CVDs in silica exposed workers.

    Keywords: Silica exposure, Silicosis, Cardiovascular Diseases, cardiovascular monitoring, biomarkers Font: Bold Formatted: Subscript, Not Highlight Font: (Default) Times New Roman, Subscript

    Received: 24 Oct 2024; Accepted: 29 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Gurzu, Handra, Ghita and Otelea. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Claudia- Mariana Handra, Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy,, Bucharest, Romania

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.