Silicosis: A Hidden Work-Related Respiratory Epidemic

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Massachusetts. Department of Public Health
• Description:
  Severe silicosis in engineered stone fabrication workers: are Massachusetts workers at risk? Small businesses, beautiful popular manufactured stone countertops, largely Latino workforce, and silica. These elements have come together to cause multiple cases of severe work-related respiratory disease associated with cutting these manufactured stone pieces. Silicosis was believed to be a disease of the past - associated with smelters, mining and stone carving - and rarely seen in current clinical practice in Massachusetts. A 2019 report about silicosis cases from engineered stone fabrication facilities in four states revealed hazards, challenges in diagnosis, and risks for the young Hispanic men who work in this industry. There are more or less 300 countertop businesses in Massachusetts and the same hazardous conditions may be present here. In this bulletin, we provide an overview of the report findings, reminders about Massachusetts reporting requirements, and tips for providers when treating patients who work with engineered stone and other silica-containing hazards. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Dust
  • Occupational Health
  • Quartz
  • Respiratory System
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases
  • Safety
  • Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  • Stone processing
  • Stone products
  • Silicosis
  • Silica dusts
  • Occupational respiratory disease
  • Quartz dust
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Newsletter
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066474
• Citation:
  Occupational lung disease bulletin for healthcare providers. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2021 Winter; :1-2
• Email:
  MDPH.OHSP@state.ma.us
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  Massachusetts State Department of Public Health - Boston
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Silicosis: a hidden work-related respiratory epidemic
• End Date:
  20260630
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230961/cdc_230961_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.86 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5b0e8e0b948ff142d0069d04096eb1b47b090da7c230564538dfcb15022aa8591548b73989fd92418e9d84639fc02389f54d289b3889da754d8479516cb2528c