Neopterin as a new biomarker for the evaluation of occupational exposure to silica.

Objectives: Silica is one of the most documented workplace contaminants. Long-term occupational exposure to silica is associated with an increased risk for respiratory diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Furthermore, a variety of immune-dysfunction-related diseases has been reported in silicotic individuals.