Silicosis is an incurable lung disease linked to inhaling silica dust. Surface fabricators, construction workers, miners and other trade workers are often exposed to silica at work.
Silicosis symptoms vary with the type of silicosis an individual is dealing with. Early silicosis symptoms often include persistent coughing, inflammation and lung tissue scarring.
Silicosis is an issue in various parts of the world. Tens of thousands of South African gold miners and their dependents sued mining companies for failing to protect them from silica dust exposure. Australia has also banned the manufacture of artificial stone because it presents certain dangers.
Causes of silicosis
There are two forms of silica: crystalline and non-crystalline (sometimes referred to as amorphous silica). Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) — crystalline silica small enough to inhale — can be dangerous to lung health. Crystalline silicosis is commonly found in construction materials. Silica dust is a potential hazard in workplaces where materials that contain crystalline silica are cut, demolished, drilled, ground or sanded.
Smaller particles, which can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, are more likely to contribute to silicosis. The body can expel some amounts of silica dust. But high amounts of silica exposure can overwhelm the lungs, allowing silica dust to collect.
Consult your healthcare provider if you suspect you have an illness related to silica exposure.
Types of silicosis
There are three types of silicosis:
- Acute silicosis can develop within weeks or months of being exposed to large amounts of silica dust. It can cause fluid to fill parts of the lung, potentially becoming fatal.
- Accelerated silicosis (or subacute) can develop in a shorter amount of time. It’s typically related to heavier exposure.
- Chronic silicosis typically develops from exposure to low levels of silica particles for 10 years or longer.
Who is being diagnosed with silicosis?
Artificial stone workers and surface fabricators are at high risk of silica exposure, which can lead to silicosis. The California Department of Health claims that more than 1,000 countertop fabrication workers worldwide have been diagnosed with silicosis since 2010. The agency has identified more than 70 California-based artificial stone workers diagnosed since 2019. At least 10 of the California workers — the majority in their 30s or 40s — have died.
