Silicosis and the Importance of Using Vacuum Attachments and Respirators
Silica is a common crystal that occurs naturally in most rock beds. Silica dust forms in mining, quarrying, tunneling, working with some metal ores, and in the processing of concrete floors. Silicosis is a respiratory illness that can be caused by exposure to silica dust.
Simple chronic silicosis is caused by long-term exposure (over 20 years) to low amounts of silica dust. It causes swelling in the lungs and chest lymph nodes and may lead to trouble breathing. Simple chronic silicosis is the most common form of the disease.
Accelerated silicosis occurs following exposure to large amounts of silica dust over a period of five to 15 years. It results in swelling in the lungs. Symptoms develop faster than with simple silicosis.
Acute silicosis is caused by shorter-term exposure to very large amounts of silica dust. It causes severe lung inflammation. The lungs can fill with fluid, and the person can have severe shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels.
Simple or accelerated silicosis can cause progressive massive fibrosis, but it occurs more commonly in the accelerated form of the disease. Progressive massive fibrosis causes severe scarring in the lungs and can destroy normal lung structures.
Exposure to high levels of silica dust can cause disease within a year, but symptoms typically do not develop for at least 10 to 15 years. Patients with silicosis have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis.
There is no specific treatment for the illness, but removing the source of silica exposure can stop silicosis from getting worse. A patient can use cough medicine, bronchodilators, oxygen, and antibiotics.
Since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created regulations requiring the use of protective equipment, silicosis has become less common. These include vacuum attachments and respirators. Vacuum attachments prevent a majority of dust from getting into the air in the first place, and respirators protect workers from breathing any dust that is in the air. At Elite Concrete Systems, we use this protective equipment so that our employees do not inhale silica dust when working on concrete floors.