The prolonged inhalation of respirable dust containing crystalline silica may result in silicosis, a disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the lungs. A pneumoconiosis (lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust), silicosis is marked by shortness of breath and impaired lung function which may give rise to complications that can result in death.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources is carcinogenic to humans and has classified these forms of silica as Group 1 carcinogens.
Crystalline silica may be harmful following high exposure levels received over a period, ranging from a few weeks to years or after long-term exposures to lower levels. There are three major types of silicosis: chronic, accelerated, and acute.
Chronic Silicosis
Chronic silicosis is most common. Symptoms may not appear for a long time, usually more than 10 years, and may progress and worsen over a period of many years. Chronic silicosis may be either a simple or a complicated type.
The effects of silicosis can continue to develop even after the exposure ceases and they are irreversible. In addition, the progression of lung fibrosis can also lead to the development of lung cancer
Simple Chronic Silicosis
Simple silicosis is almost entirely without symptoms. In the early stages of the disease the lung nodules are small (usually 1 to 3 mm) and discrete in the upper lung fields. As the disease progresses the nodules increase in number and size and also occupy the lower field. Although simple silicosis may never grow more serious, long-term exposure to silica dust may lead to complicated silicosis.
Complicated Chronic Silicosis
Complicated chronic silicosis is also called progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). The first symptoms may be shortness of breath with exercise, wheezing or sputum that causes coughing. However, some people with the disease have no symptoms. Complicated silicosis can become worse when in combination with other lung diseases. Severe complicated silicosis can result in heart disease in addition to lung disease.
Accelerated Silicosis
Accelerated silicosis is almost the same as chronic silicosis. However, it develops more quickly and the lung scars show up sooner. Accelerated silicosis can develop when exposure to large amounts of silica dust occurs over a short time period. Nodules may appear on a chest x-ray five years after the first exposure to silica dust and the disease can quickly worsen.
Acute Silicosis
Acute silicosis is a lung disease that develops rapidly. As few as 8 to 18 months may elapse from the time of first exposure to the onset of symptoms, which include progressive shortness of breath, fever, cough and weight loss. There is a rapid progression of respiratory failure usually resulting in death within one or two years.
How does silica enter the body?
Occupational exposure to silica occurs through inhalation of small airborne particles of silica dust, mainly in the range of 5.0 mm to 0.5 mm, which are not expelled from the lung when inhaled. Instead, they remain in the lung and are deposited in lymph nodes, where over time, calcium can deposit in those nodes and settle along the rim of the lymph node. This condition is known as "egg-shell" calcification. In some cases, silica particles are carried into the lungs where a scar may form around the particles. Over time, the hardened scars gradually start to show up on the chest x-ray as fibrosis of the lung.
...they should be arrested =p haha
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
