eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Public Health Research 2327-6703 2018-04-03 6 2 125 129 10.12691/ajphr-6-2-17 AJPHR20186217 article Attapon Cheepsattayakorn Attapon1958@gmail.com, attaponche@yahoo.com 1 2 3 Ruangrong Cheepsattayakorn 4 5 Chief Guest Editor, Special Issue 'Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Among Silica and Other Dust Exposed Workers', American Journal of Public Health Research Guest Editor, Special Issue 'Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Among Silica and Other Dust Exposed Workers', American Journal of Public Health Research Silica-associated diseases, including tuberculosis and other related diseases, such as COPD, lung cancer, autoimmune diseases, renal diseases, etc. remain an important public health concern in the 21th century. Silica exposures and silicosis increase the risk of active tuberculosis development by approximately 30-40 times, compared to populations without silica exposure. Workers with periods of silica exposure longer than 10 years should be provided tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis. Although evidences of silicosis are not detected, the risk of active tuberculosis can increase. However, further studies are urgently needed to identify the best chemoprophylaxis regimen for tuberculosis. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajphr/6/2/17/ajphr-6-2-17.pdf silicosis silicosis-associated tuberculosis silica tuberculosis