What Is Silicosis?

Silicosis is a respiratory condition caused by the inhalation of silica dust. Silica dust is actually the mineral silicon dioxide in tiny crystalline form. Silicon dioxide is a major component of sand and other earth materials with industrial and construction applications. Because of this, silicosis is almost exclusively an occupational or worksite disease. Prolonged contact with air-circulated silica can result in a serious loss of lung efficiency and the increased risk of other, related medical issues.

Silicosis is a concern for anyone working in a construction, quarrying, or industrial setting that produces airborne particulate matter in volume. If you or a loved one is at risk and experiences shortness of breath or other signs of respiratory stress, seek help from an appropriate source, such as a Baptist Health medical provider.

Symptoms

Silicosis is one of several work-related, dust-inhalation diseases that also includes asbestos-derived conditions. First-appearing symptoms are:

• Chronic coughing
• Mucous production
• Labored breathing

Later developing symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Physical weakness
• Weight loss
• Chest pain
• Swollen limbs
• Blue lips

There are three primary types of silicosis, distinguished by the time period in which they develop:

• Chronic silicosis: This form of silicosis results from moderate levels of exposure over the course of ten or more years.
• Accelerated silicosis: The accelerated form of silicosis is produced by higher levels of exposure in a period of two to five years.
• Acute silicosis: Acute silicosis develops in a few months’ time from unusually high levels of silica exposure.

A complication of silicosis is the scarring of lung tissue, called fibrosis. This can lead to the most serious form of the disease, known as progressive massive fibrosis.

Causes

Silicosis is caused by silica. Tiny silicon-dioxide crystals enter the respiratory system when you breathe and become embedded in lung tissue, where they produce scarring and inflammation. Silica also damages the lungs’ alveolar macrophages, which are a crucial part of your body’s immune defenses.

Few people are exposed to significant levels of airborne silica outside of the job environment. The industries most likely to generate exposure risks are:

• Ceramics and pottery production
• Construction and demolition
• Foundry work
• Glassmaking
• Mining and quarrying
• Sandblasting
• Stonework

Diagnosis

As a first step in diagnosing silicosis, your doctor will conduct a physical exam and compile a family medical history. He or she will want to know the industry that you work in, and whether the jobsite is a source of airborne silica. Your physician may then order the following tests:

• Imaging exam: A chest X-ray or CT scan can determine whether scars or other forms of tissue damage are present in the lungs.
• Bronchoscopy: A bronchoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a camera attachment that the doctor inserts through the mouth to inspect your lungs for the presence of scarring or inflammation.
• Lung-tissue biopsy: A biopsy is the collection of a tissue sample for analysis, usually by means of needle insertion through the chest into one of the lungs. A lab technician will evaluate the sample under a microscope for evidence of silicosis.

Also critical in diagnosis is the elimination of possible alternative explanations for your symptoms. Your doctor may collect a sample of sputum – a mixture of mucous and saliva taken from the respiratory tract – to look for evidence of another pulmonary disease, such as tuberculosis (TB).

Treatment

There are no cures for silicosis, but several treatments exist for reducing its impact on your health. These include:

• Smoking cessation: Smokers with silicosis are doubly at risk. You can reduce lung irritation by eliminating tobacco products from your life.
• Medications: Bronchodilators and inhaled steroids can reduce inflammation and lessen the volume of mucous in the lungs.
• Oxygen therapy: Supplemental oxygen is available in the form of portable tanks, to be used with the onset of fatigue.
• Lung transplantation: Highly advanced cases of silicosis may require lung transplant surgery.

Persons with silicosis run a greater risk of certain associated medical conditions, such as bronchitis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma. Treatment for these conditions varies widely.

Recovery

Silicosis is not a disease from which you recover so much as a chronic condition that you learn to manage. Its impact on how you live will be governed by a number of factors, including the amount and duration of silica exposure, your age, and your overall health status, including any associated medical conditions. Treatment has in many cases proven successful in allowing persons with silicosis to improve their day-to-day living.

Preventing Silicosis

Because silicosis is a potential work-related hazard, the best means of avoiding exposure is changing jobs from a high-risk to a low-risk environment. Short of that, make certain to wear personal protective equipment at all times and to follow the safety practices established by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the industry that employs you. For example, OSHA mandates a Personal Exposure Limit (PEL) to silica of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air on average over an eight-hour daily shift. Any masks or respirators that you use should meet the OSHA standard for working in a setting with airborne particulate matter.

Find a Location Near You

Silicosis is a lung condition caused by the inhalation of silica – tiny particles of silicon dioxide. It is nearly always the result of exposure to airborne dust in an industrial, mining, or construction environment. If you work in this type of setting, and develop a nagging cough or shortness of breath, seek medical care. Get directions to the nearest Baptist Health facility.