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Silicosis

Silicosis is a long-term lung disease. It's caused by breathing in silica dust, usually over many years.

Accelerated silicosis is when the disease comes on more quickly. This happens when someone's exposed to large amounts of silica dust over a shorter time.

There is no cure for this disease. Preventing exposure to silica dust is the most important way to prevent it happening.

Silica is in some types of stone, rock, sand and clay. People who work with these substances can inhale fine silica particles into their lungs. Their immune system responds to these particles by causing swelling and inflammation.

Over time, these areas of swelling and inflammation harden with scar tissue. This makes the lungs stiff and stops them functioning properly.

Symptoms of silicosis

Silicosis symptoms usually get worse over time. The main symptoms of silicosis are:

• a persistent cough that lasts longer than six weeks
• shortness of breath
• tiredness and reduced exercise tolerance.

In more severe disease, the scar tissue in the lungs puts pressure on the heart and can lead to a type of heart failure.

Risk factors for silicosis

People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk of silicosis:

• cutting engineered stone benchtops (engineered stone benchtops are 90% silica). People in this industry are more at risk of accelerated silicosis
• stone masonry and stone cutting
• construction and demolition
• pottery, ceramics and glass manufacturing
• mining and quarrying
• sand blasting.

If you work in these areas and have any of the symptoms of silicosis, see your GP to talk about your concerns.

Preventing silicosis

Reducing exposure to silica dust is the most important way to prevent silicosis. Your workplace should take the following steps:

• identify the hazardous material and make their employees aware of the hazard
• adjust the environment where silica producing materials are cut or handled. This should include adequate ventilation, dust extraction and dust reduction with wet cutting methods
• provide protective equipment such as respirators where needed.

See this information from WorkSafe about reducing risk in the engineered stone benchtop industry.

Diagnosing silicosis

You doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and how you could have been exposed.

Tests for silicosis can involve:

• a chest X-ray to look at the structure of your lungs
• lung function tests (also known as spirometry) to check how well your lungs are working
• a CT scan of your chest to look at your lungs in more detail.

Treating silicosis

There is no cure for silicosis. The treatment is aimed at managing your symptoms and checking to see if the condition is getting worse. The most important step is to stop any further exposure to silica dust.

Self-care for silicosis

It's important to protect your lungs from any further damage. To do this:

• make sure you stop being exposed to silica dust. If this means you have to stop work, you may be eligible for a benefit
• stop smoking
• if you have signs of a chest infection, see your doctor. They may give you antibiotics to stop any bacterial infection from getting worse
• keep active at a level that you can manage with your symptoms. You may want to see a physiotherapist for advice about activity with your condition.

Getting help for Silicosis

Your GP will support you. You'll also see a respiratory specialist team for diagnosis and follow up.

You may want to consider seeing a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. They will give you advice about managing daily activities with your symptoms.

If you have to stop work, you can talk to your GP or Work and Income (WINZ) about benefits you're eligible for. You may be able to get help to get into work that will not make your condition worse. You may also be eligible for ACC support.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• WorkSafe – Safety alert: Accelerated silicosis

  Information about the health risks of exposure to silica in the stone benchtop industry.

• NHS – Silicosis

  Information about silicosis, including symptoms, prevention and treatment.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed June 2021.

Sources

Page reference: 784984

Review key: HISIL-784984