SILICOSIS
Silicosis
is the chronic fibrosing disease of the lungs produced by the
prolonged and extensive exposure to free crystalline silica dust.
When workers inhale crystalline silica (dust), the lung tissue
reacts by developing fibrotic nodules and scarring around the
trapped silica particles. This fibrotic condition of the lung
is called silicosis. If the nodules grow too large, breathing
becomes difficult and death may result. Silicosis victims are
also at high risk of developing active tuberculosis. More than
one million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica, and
each year hundreds of these workers die from silicosis. Silicosis
treatment is very limited as there is no cure for the disease,
but it is 100 percent preventable if employers, workers, and
health professionals work together to reduce exposures.
Pneumoconiosis is the general term for lung disease caused by inhalation of
mineral dust. Silicosis is a fibronodular lung disease caused by inhalation
of dust containing crystalline silica (alpha-quartz or silicon dioxide), which
is distributed widely, or its polymorphs (tridymite or cristobalite), which
are distributed less widely.Silica-related diseases are associated only with
crystalline-free silica. The most common examples of crystalline-free silica
are beach or bank sands. A third form of free silica is fused silica which
is produced by heating either the amorphous or crystalline forms. Other forms
include cristobalite and tridymite. Workers exposed to silica dust are often
exposed to asbestos as well and many will develop asbestos lung diseases including
a rare lung disease called mesothelioma.
Types of Silicosis:
Workers
may develop any of three types of silicosis, depending on the
concentration of airborne silica:
-
Chronic silicosis, which usually occurs after
ten or more years of exposure to crystalline silica at relatively
low concentrations.
-
Accelerated silicosis which results from
exposure to high concentrations of crystalline silica and develops
five to ten years after the initial exposure.
-
Acute silicosis, which occurs where exposure
concentrations are the highest and can cause symptoms to develop
within a few weeks to four or five years after the initial exposure.
Silicosis Symptoms and Side Effects of Silicosis Lung Disease:
Early stages of silicosis may go unnoticed. Continued exposure
to silica dust may result in a shortness of breath on exercising,
possible fever and occasionally bluish skin at the ear lobes or
lips. Silicosis makes a person more susceptible to infectious diseases
of the lungs, such as tuberculosis. Progression of silicosis leads
to fatigue, extreme shortness of breath, loss of appetite, pains
in the chest, and respiratory failure, which may cause death.
Medical evaluations of silicosis victims usually show the lungs
to be filled with silica crystals and a protein material. Pulmonary
fibrosis (fibrous tissue in the lung) may or may not develop in
acute cases of silicosis depending on the time between the exposure
and the onset of symptoms. Furthermore, evidence indicates that
crystalline silica is a potential occupational carcinogen.
At-Risk Occupations for Silica Dust Exposure:
It is generally recognized that people working in the following
industries have the greatest risk of being exposed to silica
dust and contracting silicosis:
- Construction
- Mining - Tunneling
- Sandblasting
- Stone Crushing
- Rock Quarries Work- Rock Drilling
- Masonry - Cement Work
- Foundry Workers, Sand Mold Shakeout
- Demolition
- Sandblast Dust Exposure to other Non-Sandblasters in work area
- Cutting or manufacturing heat-resistant bricks (Fire Brick)
- Manufacturing of glass products
- Railroad construction
- Plumbing
- Painting
Silicosis
Injury Help - Lawsuit & Legal Rights
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with silicosis or you
believe that due to your employment that you have been exposed
to free silica dust, then call us to discuss what can be done to
protect your legal rights and whether or not you have possible
silicosis based lawsuit. Often our clients do not know when or
where they were exposed to the silica dust. However after careful
investigation and discussions with the worker about their job history,
work duties and the types of products and materials that they worked
with, the workers often are able to discover and understand their
silica exposure history. Sometimes due to health reasons,it becomes
necessary to enlist the help of former co-workers to help uncover
the exposure history.All silicosis cases are handling by a contingency
fee contract, which means that there will be no charges to the
client for any attorneys fees or legal cases expenses unless we
make a recovery for the client. NO FEES OR EXPENSES CHARGED
TO CLIENT(s) UNLESS A RECOVERY OR SETTLEMENT IS OBTAINED.
Call
Toll Free for a Free Confidential Consultation TALK
TO A SILICOSIS LAWYER NOW at 1-800-883-9858
or 1-800-468-4878 or click
here for online Silicosis Legal Help.
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that person is represented by the firm. An attorney client relationship
only arises after the attorney and client have signed a written
attorney client agreement, after the attorney has evaluated the
background facts provided and has accepted the representation
of the client's legal action.
Further,
any statement or reference to past settlements or verdicts should
NOT be relied upon in own case or in your decision on which law
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and lawsuits are different and there is NO way to predict the
outcome of a particular case, verdict of a jury or judge or the
strength of a case before a judge, jury or the appellate court
system. The client is responsible for all of their own medical
expenses. All cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. NO
attorneys fees or case costs charged to client ,unless a recovery
is made for the client.

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