Silicosis risk factors
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
Overview
Risk Factors
The risk of developing silicosis is associated with the cumulative exposure of an individual to crystalline silica.
- Accumulated silica dose = Fraction of respirable dust × % of free silica in mg/m3 × Number of years of exposure[1]
- Accumulated silica dose = Fraction of respirable dust × % of free silica in mg/m3 × Number of years of exposure[1]
Occupational exposure is the most significant risk factor of silicosis. The most common occupations that involve exposure to silicosis are shown below:
- Excavations in mines, tunnels, quarries, underground galleries
- Quarrying, cutting and polishing siliceous rock
- Dry cutting, grinding, sieving and manipulation of minerals and rock
- Manufacturing of silicon carbide, glass, porcelain, earthenware and other ceramic products
- Manufacturing and maintenance of abrasives and detergent powders
- Foundry work: cast shakeout, sprue removal and blast cleaning
- Milling work: polishing, filing products containing free silica
- Sandblasting and grinding
- Pottery industry
- Handling quartz conglomerates and ornamental stone
- Dental prostheses
- A few cases of non-occupational silicosis have been reported in communities at proximity to industries like quarries and sand works.
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.