Silica is a crystalline mineral found in the earth’s crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain crystalline silica. Silica is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stone. The dust forms when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar.

Silica dust particles enter the body through the airways and embed into the lung’s air sacs. The immune system is unable to clear out the dust, which causes lung inflammation. This leads to the formation of lung nodules and scarring called pulmonary fibrosis. The negative health effects associated with silicosis usually take years to develop.

Silica gets released from materials getting cut, sandblasted, chipped, drilled, or grinded. Without using protective equipment or safety measures, silica dust is inhaled and reaches the lungs.

Silica may be produced from the following, but not limited to:

• Concrete
• Brick
• Stone
• Foundry work
• Ceramics manufacturing
• Mining and hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

• Shortness of breath
• Severe cough
• Wheezing
• Weakness
• Chest Pains
• Reduced lung capacity
• Difficult breathing
• Bluish or grayish skin color

As the disease advances, the following occurs:

• Shortness of breath becomes worse
• Cough becomes worse
• Lung x-rays show scar tissue
• Increased tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Weakened immune system, which manifests as other illnesses (like tuberculosis). This may result in fever, weight loss, night sweats, chest pains, and/or respiratory failure

Individuals who work in the following industries, but not limited to:

• Mining industries
• Sandblasting or abrasive cutting
• Foundries
• Granite and stone cutting
• Construction (especially bridge, highway, and tunnels)
• Masonry work
• Concrete finishing
• Drywall finishing
• Shipyards or railroad workers
• Sand and gravel screening
• Rock crushing (for road base)

In recent years, there has been a rising demand for artificial, or engineered, stone countertops in kitchen and bathrooms. The first case of silicosis linked to an engineered stone fabrication worker was identified in Texas in 2014. Since then, other states have found more cases of silicosis in engineered stone fabrication workers through monitoring rates and cases.

The reporting requirements remain the same for workers diagnosed with silicosis stemming from engineered stone.

• Time period or duration of exposure to silica
• How often exposure occurred
• Products in contact with and whether protective equipment was used
• History of smoking

After a physical examination, a physician may order the following for diagnosis, but not limited to:

• Chest x-ray or CT scan
• Lung function tests
• Sputum test (collecting coughed up mucus for evaluation)
• Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera into the nose or mouth and into the lung to assess lung condition)
• Surgical lung biopsy

• Avoid working in silica dust whenever possible.
• Check that all ventilation systems and protective equipment are in good repair and working correctly.
• Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and use it properly.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking breaks down the body’s defenses and makes it hard for your lungs to remove dust.
• Shower and change clothes after working in contaminated areas before getting in your car and going home.
• Get regular medical checkups, with pulmonary function tests and x-rays.

• Physicians
• Health professionals
• Anyone in charge of a medical laboratory, blood bank, mobile unit, or other facility where an examination reveals evidence of silicosis

View information here on how to report silicosis.