What is Silicosis and Why are Silicosis Rates Increasing?

Silicosis is a progressively disabling and sometimes fatal lung disease. Silicosis causes the lungs to scar, harden, and lose their capacity to transfer oxygen, interfering with the ability to breathe. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), silicosis kills more than a thousand people every year, and the numbers are rising at an alarming rate.

Recently, silicosis has come under scrutiny as more workers are being diagnosed with it, largely due to the popularity of manufactured quartz countertops, which often contain more than 90 percent crystalline silica. 

What is silicosis?

Silicosis is caused by inhaling tiny particles of silica dust—most people get the disease because they breathe in silica dust at their workplace. Crystalline silica is a natural mineral found in sand, stone, soil, concrete, and quartz. Exposure to airborne silica—in particular quartz dust—happens at a number of industrial and occupational settings, but those who work with modern manufactured countertops are at particular risk. 

When workers inhale silica dust, microscopic particles embed themselves within the lungs, causing inflammation. This ultimately leads to scarring in the lung tissue around the trapped silica particles. The permanent scarring inhibits the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen.

There are three main forms of silicosis:

• Accelerated silicosis usually develops over two to five years. Heavier exposure to silica dust causes this form to develop faster.
• Acute silicosis is the result of intense silica dust exposure (i.e. breathing in dust that contains a high amount of silica.) Acute silicosis usually takes five years or less to develop.
• Chronic silicosis is the most common form of the disease and typically develops after more than 10 years of exposure to silica dust.

Mild cases of silicosis may be managed for years, however, advanced or acute forms can lead to severe breathing problems and a death.

What are the symptoms of silicosis?

Silicosis symptoms aren’t immediately noticeable—instead, they develop over time.

The main symptoms of silicosis include:

• A persistent cough
• Inflammation in the lung tissue
• Scarring in the lung tissue

Other symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss

The disease was extremely rare before the surge in popularity of engineered stone countertops. Even today, doctors often fail to recognize and diagnose the disease and simply call it severe lung damage or COPD.

What are the health effects of silicosis?

People who have silicosis face an increased risk of the following:

• Autoimmune diseases (including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic kidney disease
• Lung cancer
• Tuberculosis

Who is at risk for silicosis?

Around 2.3 million workers in the U.S. are exposed to silica within the workplace, including 2 million who work in construction and 300,000 who work in other industries. 

Workers are exposed to silica dust during the cutting, grinding, drilling, edge-profiling and polishing of quartz slabs—these activities can all generate very high levels of airborne silica dust. Many workers have been diagnosed with silicosis over the past five years due to the high demand for quartz countertops, which generate a high degree of silica dust for workers.

Most at risk for exposure include:

• Manufactured stone countertop fabricators
• Masonry and concrete workers
• Construction and demolition workers
• Mining and quarry workers

Can silicosis be cured?

There is no cure for silicosis—once the silica dust particles are breathed in, they cannot be cleared from the lung tissue. The lungs are also unable to break down or expel the particles, therefore they remain in the lungs, causing ongoing inflammation and scarring. 

Although silicosis cannot be cured, it can be treated to relieve symptoms and reduce complications.

How We Help Silicosis Victims

Seek justice with the help of our experienced silicosis attorneys. Our law firm represents workers exposed to dangerous silica dust on the job, aggressively fighting to hold negligent manufacturers accountable. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with silicosis or developed symptoms after workplace exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation.