Silicosis causes
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aparna Vuppala, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Silicosis is caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica, including quartz, cristobalite, and trimidite.
Causes
- Silicosis is caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica, including quartz, cristobalite, and trimidite.
- Of all three, quartz is most abundant and is frequently associated with the development of silicosis upon prolonged exposure and/or exposure at extremely high concentrations.[1]
Source of Silica
- Silica (silicon dioxide) is the most abundant mineral on earth. Silica exists in crystalline and amorphous forms.
- Quartz is the most abundant form of crystalline silica. It is a major component of rocks including granite, slate, and sandstone.
- Granite contains approximately 30% free silica
- Slate contains approximately about 40%
- Sandstone is almost pure silica[2]
- In contrast, the amorphous forms, including vitreous silica and diatomite (formed from skeletons of prehistoric marine organisms), are relatively less toxic following inhalation than other forms of silica.
- Cristobalite and tridymite occur naturally in lava and are formed when either quartz or amorphous silica is subjected to very high temperatures.
References
- ↑ Fernández Álvarez R, Martínez González C, Quero Martínez A, Blanco Pérez JJ, Carazo Fernández L, Prieto Fernández A (2015). "Guidelines for the diagnosis and monitoring of silicosis". Arch Bronconeumol. 51 (2): 86–93. doi:10.1016/j.arbres.2014.07.010. PMID 25479706.
- ↑ Lapp NL (1981). "Lung disease secondary to inhalation of nonfibrous minerals". Clin Chest Med. 2 (2): 219–33. PMID 6273058.