The health effects of silica dust
For many years, it has been known that breathing in fine dust containing crystalline silica can cause lung damage (silicosis). In fact, silicosis is the world's oldest known occupational disease.
Silicosis is a slowly progressive, irreversible disease that usually takes some years to develop. Silicosis can cause breathing problems, the severity of which can range from mild through to severely disabling, depending on the amount of dust inhaled. In severe cases, silicosis leads to premature death. In people who have had exceptionally high exposures over just a few months or years, a rapidly progressive and often fatal condition known as "acute silicosis" can occur.
Future cases of silicosis can be reduced by removing silica dust altogether, and where that is not possible, implementing appropriate measures to reduce exposure to silica-containing dusts. Such measures include improved work practices, engineering controls, respiratory protective equipment and training programmes.
Amicus guide to controlling silica dust
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
The symptoms of COPD are chronic cough, sputum production and breathlessness. The condition is slow to develop and is rarely seen in people under 40. It can be very disabling and is a leading cause of death. Severe unremitting asthma is classed as a COPD.
COPD is associated with exposure to silica dust. COPD encompasses bronchitis and emphysema, and in essence means that people suffer breathing difficulties. Most COPDs are caused by cigarette smoking, but at least 15% of COPDs are work related. Silica dust is strongly linked to occupational causes of COPD.
Related links
- Link to Quarries Silica health information
- Control of exposure to silica dust: A guide for employees
- Construction Information Sheet No 36 Revision 1
- "Silica - How WEL are you managing the risks" leaflet (QUARRIES)
- HSL- Table indicating likely work-related health risks by trade
- All COSHH Essentials for Stone Masons ST0 to ST 4
- All COSHH Essentials for Construction CN0 - CN11
- All COSHH Essentials in Brick & Tile Making - BK0 - BK7
- All COSHH Essentials for Manufacturing MN0 - MN4
- COSHH Essentials for Quarries QY0- QY10
- HSE Statistics link to ALL Occupational Diseases including Respiratory - For Health Professionals
- COSHH essentials - G404 Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS)
List of references and links to Pneumoconiosis
- Table IIDB06 Pneumoconiosis under Industrial Injuries(a) Scheme: new cases assessed, by industry to which the disease was attributed(b) 1991-2008 ( )For Health Professionals)
- All you need to know about disposable dust masks Farmers lung - HSE Agriculture site
List of links to ill health statistics
- Occupational Asthma cases reported by Industry
- Occupational Asthma cases reported by Trade
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (& Emphysema)
- Work related & Occupational respiratory diseases table (available via the National Archives)
For emphysema and chronic bronchitis see COPD website.
Work-related COPD, is a lung condition that encompasses both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Evidence suggests that the combination of smoking and occupational exposures to fumes, chemicals and dusts accounts for approximately 4,000 deaths annually in the UK. COPD is a long latency disease, ie it can be a considerable time between exposure and any ill health symptoms appearing. (text from DRP Site).