Understanding the Hazards of Silica

Each year, more than 300 American workers die from silicosis, and thousands of new cases are diagnosed. Silicosis is the name given to incurable lung damage that occurs when workers inhale dusts that contain crystalline silica.

Silica comes in different forms, but crystalline silica is the type that causes scarring in the lungs. Crystalline silica is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite, and various other rocks and sand. Workers who inhale very small crystalline silica particles are at risk for silicosis.

What is Silicosis?
Silicosis is the name given to lung damage that occurs when workers inhale dusts that contain crystalline silica. Workers may not notice symptoms in the disease’s early stages. But after several years of exposure, they will experience shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain, and fatigue. Exposure to crystalline silica and the development of silicosis also increase their risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and tuberculosis.

Silicosis can’t be cured. If a worker’s lungs are so badly damaged that they can no longer function, your only option is a lung transplant. So, it’s important to protect their lungs. – Read more at: DailySafetyAdvisor.blr.com