Silicosis One of the Oldest Occupational Diseases in the World

Silicosis is an incurable lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust containing free crystalline silica. Silicosis is irreversible and continues to progress even after the exposure to the silica has stopped. Silica exposure may result in silicosis in less than a year, but it usually takes a decade or more before symptoms appear.

Silicosis results in conditions such as lung fibrosis and emphysema. A frequent cause of death in people who have silicosis is pulmonary tuberculosis (or silico-tuberculosis).

Free crystalline silica, or SiO2, is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. It is found in sand, some coal and metallic ores, as well as in granite, flint, sandstone and slate. The three most common forms of crystalline silica are: cristobalite, tridymite, and quartz.

Silica dust is commonly found in operations in which rocks, sand, concrete, and some ores are broken or crushed. Particularly risky is working in mines, quarries, foundries, and construction sites. Also, plants where they manufacture glass, ceramics, and abrasive powders are places where high amounts of silica dust can be found. Other occupations where the exposure to silica dust can be high include those that feature: sandblasting; dry sweeping; clearing of sand and concrete; and any activities where large dust clouds can be generated.

Silicosis is considered to be one of the oldest occupational diseases in the world. Its origins can be traced back as early as the 16th century. Agricola wrote of villages in the Carpathian Mountains of Europe, where women married seven husbands, all of whom died prematurely because of silico-tuberculosis.

In modern times, silicosis is still a problem throughout the world. In the USA, it is estimated that more than one million workers are occupationally exposed to free crystalline silica dusts (more than 100,000 of these workers are sandblasters), of whom some 59,000 will eventually develop silicosis. It is reported that each year in the USA about 300 people die from it, but the true number is not known.

Some of the symptoms of silica exposure are: chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, severe cough, and flu-like symptoms. Silicosis can be detected by a simple chest x-ray, but by then, it is usually too late for the victim to recover.

OSHA says that silicosis is 100% preventable, if workers are given properly working protective equipment to wear. If you or someone that you love is the victim of silicosis, you may have legal rights to pursue remedies for your injuries.

Please Note:
Statutes of limitation may apply and determine how long you have to file a lawsuit. In the case of personal injury litigation, the type of injury as well as the state the injury occurred in are some of the factors used to determine the length of time you have in which to file a lawsuit. Read the statute of limitations in your state.