Silicosis is an occupational lung disease. It is caused due to inhalation of silica dust (chemical compound silicon dioxide). It is also known as grinder’s disease and potters rot. Inhalation of silica dust causes scarring of the lung tissues. Silicosis is preventable but unfortunately incurable. In the UK risk of silicosis is very low at the moment due to the change in nature of work involving silica.
 There are three types of Silicosis; simple chronic silicosis, accelerated silicosis and acute silicosis. Simple chronic silicosis causes from long term exposure to silica dust, usually over a period of more than 20 years. Accelerated silicosis happens after exposure to larger amounts of silica over a shorter period of time, usually 5 - 15 years. Symptoms of silicosis progress faster in accelerated silicosis.
Acute silicosis results from short-term exposure to very large amounts of silica. The lungs become very inflamed and may fill with fluid, causing severe shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels
Cause
Silica is a common, natural crystal. Its found in most rock-beds. It forms dust during mining, quarrying, tunneling and work related to metal ores.
Workers that are mostly in danger of silicosis are those in mining, stone cutting, quarrying, road and building construction, work with abrasives manufacturing, sand blasting occupation and many other that work with stones and metals. Inhaling silica dust causes small particles of it to embed into parts of the lung and cannot be cleared by mucous or coughing. The dust is toxic to the lining of the lungs causing a strong inflammatory reaction.
Symptom
Silicosis is characterised by shortness of breath, fever, and cyanosis (bluish skin). It may often be misdiagnosed as fluid in the lungs, pneumonia, or tuberculosis, since some of the symptoms of silicosis are similar to these diseases. Since silicosis is a progressive disease and takes longer period of time to develop, signs and symptoms of it may not appear until many years after exposure to silica. Symptoms of silicosis include,
- Chronic cough
- Shortness of breath with exercise, usually in patients who have progressive massive fibrosis
- Changes in breathing pattern (rapid breathing or shallow breathing)
- Fever
- Dry or severe cough, often persistent and accompanied by hoarseness of the throat
- Weight loss
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Chest pain
Prevention
The best way to prevent silicosis is to identify work-place activities that produce crystalline silica dust and then to eliminate or control the dust. Water spray is often used where dust emanates. Dust can also be controlled through dry air filtering. |
