Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between cumulative silica dust exposure (CDE) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and compare the effects of different exposure levels of fine particulate matter on arterial stiffness. MethodsUsing cross-sectional study design, patients with pneumoconiosis in Kailuan Colliery were selected as the study subjects. The subjects were divided into four groups according to CDE, quartile 1 (CDE＜877 mg/m3-y), quartile 2 (877≤CDE≤1 105 mg/m3-y), quartile 3 (1 105＜CDE≤1 320 mg / m3-y), quartile 4 (CDE＞1 320 mg/m3-y). Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare the effects of different CDE on the baPWV. ResultsAll of the 813 subjects were male. The average age of the four groups was 62.09, 61.32, 65.57, and 72.47 years, respectively. The baPWVs in the 4 groups were 1 692.51, 1 689.25, 1 789.96, and 1 915.55 cm/s, respectively.The detection rates of baPWVs beyond 1 725 cm/s in the four groups were 40.3%, 44.1%, 49.5%, and 68.6%, respectively. Partial correlation analysis showed that CDE was positively correlated with baPWV (P＜0.05).After adjusting for age，heart rate，BMI，TC，TG，LDL-C，HDL-C，diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking，the risk of baPWV greater than 1 725 cm/s increased (OR = 2.61) in the fourth subgroup compared with the CDE quartile 1 group.ConclusionCDE in patients with pneumoconiosis was positively correlated with baPWV and an independent risk factor for arteriosclerosis.