Introduction

Silicosis is an interstitial lung disease that has an impact on people who breathe in small silicon dioxide particles (silica dust). Silica, a natural compound, exists in:

• Plants such as dark leafy greens, bell peppers and other vegetables
• Rocks, like quartz and granite
• Sand
• Soil
• Water

Most people develop silicosis by inhaling silica dust at work. You might not notice symptoms right away. However, silica can harm your lungs over time. Some types of silica take about 10 years of constant exposure to cause damage. Higher exposure levels can speed up lung damage. Safety rules have helped reduce silicosis cases. However, in the last five years many people have gotten silicosis from working with engineered stone products.

Types of silicosis

Silicosis can develop in three ways:

• Acute (sudden) silicosis: This type can develop if you breathe in a large amount of silica dust over a short time. It takes up to five years to appear. In some cases, you might see symptoms within a few months.
• Chronic (long-term) silicosis: This is the most common form. It shows up after you've been around breathable dust for over 10 years. The amount of silica in the dust plays a role, too. Simple silicosis is the most frequent type of chronic silicosis. Another type - progressive massive silicosis, leads to extensive scarring.
• Subacute silicosis (accelerated silicosis): This type shows up within two to five years. It progresses more due to more intense exposure to silica dust.

Symptoms

Silicosis mainly shows these symptoms:

• Cough that doesn't go away and often bring up mucus
• Swelling in the lungs
• Scar tissue forming in the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
• These symptoms can lead to:
• Feeling tired all the time
• Weak muscles
• Trouble breathing
• Losing weight for no clear reason

What is the Main Reason for Silicosis?

Silicosis happens when your lungs get hurt from breathing in silica dust. This occurs at work. You have a higher chance of getting silicosis if you work in these fields:

• Construction work including demolition and building activities
• Work in metal foundries
• Digging and extracting from mines and quarries
• Making things out of clay, ceramic, and glass
• Cleaning surfaces with sand under high pressure
• Working with stone, including making stone countertops

Diagnosis

Medical history and physical assessment: A doctor will look at your health history and ask you about your symptoms. They will check you out, including listening to your lungs with a stethoscope. Doctors may also ask about your previous work experience. If they think you might have silicosis or another lung problem, they'll recommend additional tests.

Diagnostic tests:

• Bronchoalveolar lavage: This test "washes" your lungs and examines the fluid extracted.
• Imaging tests: X-rays and CT scans of your chest can show detailed images of your lungs.
• Lab tests: Lab tests can't identify silicosis. But they can help doctors rule out other conditions such as certain types of infections.
• Lung biopsy: Doctors take out a tiny bit of your lung tissue to examine. Doctors seldom suggest a lung biopsy to diagnose silicosis.
• Pulmonary function tests: These tests check how well your lungs work.
• Sputum culture: A sputum culture looks at the mucus you cough up.

Management

Silicosis has no cure. However, you can take steps to manage your symptoms:

• Switch jobs
• Participate in pulmonary rehab
• Stop smoking, vaping and using tobacco products
• Use bronchodilators to boost airflow
• Corticosteroids or antibiotics if infections develop
• Supplemental oxygen therapy to improve oxygen levels
• For severe cases, doctors might suggest a lung transplant.

Prevention

• You can prevent silicosis. If your job exposes you to respirable crystalline silica dust, you can reduce your risk of developing silicosis by:
• Changing out of dusty clothes
• Making sure job sites have air-monitoring equipment
• Using equipment that helps cut down dust in the air, including exhaust ventilation, dust-collecting systems, spraying water on surfaces and using "wet drills" to keep dust down
• Using vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters or wet mops to clean worksites instead of a dry broom
• Wearing the right PPE, including a tight-fitting respirator
• It's also smart to get regular silicosis screenings through your employer. Screenings are tests that check for signs of silicosis before you have symptoms. Catching it is crucial to stop severe symptoms.