Silicosis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Rosenman, Kenneth D.
• Description:
  The element silicon (Si) is the second most common element in the Earth's crust. Silicon in combination with oxygen is silica (SiO2). Silicosis, an interstitial lung disease, is produced by the inhalation of silica-containing dust. Silicosis is the most common of the pneumoconioses (lung disease caused by inhalation of mineral dusts). Silicosis is an ancient disease, and its pathology was first described in the 1600s. The association of silica exposure with an increased risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, connective tissue disease, renal disease, and tuberculosis was recognized in the 1900s. These conditions can occur after silica exposure in the absence of silicosis. Workers in many types of industry can be at risk of exposure to silica. Given it's abundance in the Earth's crust, workers in all parts of the mining industry, including quarry workers, have the potential for exposure to silica, which is commonly used in foundries and the manufacture of brick, cement, glass, pottery, sinks, and toilet bowls. Construction workers such as jackhammer operators, masons, and abrasive blasters are an additional high-risk group for silica exposure. New exposures to silica continue to be reported, such as in the manufacture or installation of stone countertops, abrasive blasting of denim clothes, dental laboratories, and hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Cristobalite is a polymorph of silica-it has the same chemical formula, SiO2, but a different chemical structure. Cristobalite can be found in volcanic rock and when silica is heated, such as in foundries or diatomaceous production facilities. In animal models it is more fibrogenic than silica. The occurrence of silica exposure is worldwide. World production is estimated to be 121 million metric tons per year. The largest number of cases of silicosis are currently being recognized in rapidly growing economies such as China and Brazil. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Construction Industry Lung Disease Mining Industry Occupational Exposure Pneumoconiosis Silica Dusts Silicosis
• Publisher:
  Oxford University Press
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Book
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066636
• Citation:
  Oxford bibliographies in public health. McQueen DV ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016 Feb; :1-11
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Editor(s):
  McQueen DV
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Oxford bibliographies in public health
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:886bd475f8bcc530cf3b5b612b9a150f633b8a72960314b7883a942ed652a637f7f025064db3c89b163e3b9242eeb8643c54f8a39da5f06a70c420354c342133
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230917/cdc_230917_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 327.50 KB ]