Monash Study Reveals Higher Autoimmune Disease Risk in Stone Benchtop Industry, Urges Expanded Health Screening

A new study by Monash University researchers highlights a significant health risk for workers in the artificial stone benchtop industry, revealing a higher prevalence of blood markers associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This research raises important questions about the need for expanded health screenings beyond silicosis, a known risk for these workers.

In response to high rates of silicosis, a severe lung disease, Australia banned the manufacture, supply, and installation of engineered stone benchtops in June this year. The study, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and led by Professor Karen Walker-Bone, examined over 1,200 current and former workers in Victoria who underwent free health screenings for silicosis and related conditions between 2019 and 2021. Researchers assessed participants for autoimmune disease symptoms, diagnoses, and early-stage markers in their blood.

Among the 1,238 workers studied, 0.9% had confirmed autoimmune diseases. However, nearly 25% of these workers showed elevated levels of antinuclear antibodies—markers that suggest a predisposition to autoimmune diseases—compared to less than 6% in similarly aged male controls. In workers diagnosed with silicosis (24.3% of the cohort), 6.6% exhibited very high levels of these antibodies. Researchers also found a link between autoantibody levels and factors like age, smoking, silicosis status, and silica dust exposure.

Professor Walker-Bone noted that the prevalence of autoimmune markers among these workers was significantly higher than the 5–9% generally expected in the broader population.

“This data suggests that in addition to silicosis screenings, workers in this industry should be monitored for autoimmune diseases, as they may require specialised care and could be eligible for compensation,” she said.

While autoimmune diseases have been documented in stone benchtop workers before, this is the first study to detect markers of autoimmune risk in workers prior to silicosis onset. According to Professor Walker-Bone, these markers may indicate a future autoimmune disease risk that could take decades to manifest. “Although anti-nuclear antibodies alone do not confirm an autoimmune disease, they can precede clinical symptoms in diseases like SLE and RA by many years,” she said. This finding underscores the need for proactive monitoring of autoimmune risk in addition to silicosis screening.

One key challenge, Professor Walker-Bone noted, is the gap in current government screening programs for long-term monitoring of exposed workers. "Government silicosis screening clinics are not equipped to cover extended follow-ups for workers who are at high risk but do not yet show symptoms of silicosis or autoimmune diseases," she explained.

The study emphasises the need to broaden health screenings for stone benchtop workers, potentially preventing serious health issues through early intervention and enabling timely support for those at risk.

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Sources

Monash study finds increased risk of autoimmune disease in stone bench-top industry, raising concerns for screening - Monash University, 16 September 2024

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