What is Silicosis?

About Silicosis:

• It is a respiratory disease which causes a hardening of the lungs.
• Causes: It is caused by silica dust or silica crystals, which are found in soil, sand, concrete, mortar, granite and artificial stone.
• It is common in construction, mining, oil and gas extraction, kitchen engineering, dentistry, pottery and sculpting.
• People working in these industries are often exposed to silica every day and are at higher risk of developing silicosis as a result.
• It can take a long time for silicosis to develop — typically 10 to 20 years of occupational exposure to silica dust.
• The main symptoms of silicosis are: a persistent cough, persistent shortness of breath weakness and tiredness etc.
• Types of Silicosis
  • Acute Silicosis: The symptoms of acute silicosis are cough, weight loss, and fatigue within a few weeks or years of exposure to inhaled silica.
  • Accelerated Silicosis: It occurs within 10 years of high-level exposure to the inhaled silica.
  • Chronic Silicosis: It occurs from 10 to 30 years after exposure and affects upper lungs and sometimes causes extensive scarring
• Silicosis is a progressive disease and has no cure.