Acheson process, occupational exposure

Category

Exposures, Complex

Description

"Variable, exceedingly hard, green to bluish-black, iridescent, sharp crystals"; [IARC Monograph 111]

Sources/Uses

"Silicon carbide was first created synthetically by Edward Acheson in 1891 by heating quartz sand and carbon in a large electric furnace. Acheson called the new compound “carborundum”, which became a trademark for a silicon carbide abrasive. Subsequently, in 1905, silicon carbide was observed in its natural form by the chemist Henri Moissan, in a meteor crater located in Canyon Diablo, Arizona, USA. Moissanite, named in honour of its discoverer, is a transparent mineral that is as brilliant and almost as hard as diamond. Only synthetically produced silicon carbide is used for commercial applications because natural moissanite is very scarce." [IARC Monograph 111]

Comments

"Occupational exposures associated with the Acheson process are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Fibrous silicon carbide is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). Silicon carbide whiskers are probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)." [IARC Monograph 111] "These evaluations were typically produced at a time when the available data provided a clear indication of increased cancer risk in an occupational group, but not enough information to identify a causal agent. While such broadly defined carcinogenic agents can lead to general industrial hygiene interventions, provide support to compensate exposed workers and stimulate research to identify specific causes, they have limited utility for informing specific prevention activities and may be affected by changes in process, materials and exposure levels over time." [PMID 29769352] See "Silicon carbide."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Reference Link #2

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Lung cancer