Silicosis is a permanent lung illness that was very regular between industrial employees who were exposed to silica and/or quartz dust. During 2002, there were 148 deaths that were related to silicosis. The Center for Disease Control believes that many more American citizens could be still exposed to the dangerous mineral dust in their jobs and that that new silicosis cases can still be reported.
Silica is a normal mineral that can be found in many kinds (almost all) of stones. This mineral is made dust and then is used to fabricate glass; it is also part of several industrial products. All the people who work in an atmosphere of digging or grinding into stones (builders, stonecutters and plant workers) generally have a high risk of inhalation of crystalline silica. Some other actions that present a high risk of exposure to silica are sandblasting, manufacturing glass, cement, drilling wells, mixing concrete and mining.
Some of the symptoms of the silicosis are: chronic cough, shortness of breath while the person exercises, fever and sometimes bluish skin at the ear lobes or lips. Some specialists think that silica is dissolved in the lungs producing a chemical reaction that poisons the cells making a grave damage and scarring of the lungs. The people who suffer this also have high probabilities for infectious lung illnesses like tuberculosis. This infection (silicosis) is known by other names like miner's phthisis, potter's asthma and others. If you or someone you know is suffering or has even died, contact your attorney and ask him/her about your possibilities to make a claim and be awarded for the damages.