What Is Silicosis?
According to the American Lung Association, Silicosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease caused by inhalation of free crystalline silica, specifically the respirable fraction of the dust. Silicosis affects people in various industries, and silica sand is a particularly high-risk abrasive blasting media due to the high content of free crystalline silica. Combining a greater awareness and understanding of this disease with products that minimize dust creation allows you to reduce the risk of free crystalline silica dust exposure.
Silicosis Definition
Silicosis is a progressive, fibrotic lung disease. Prolonged exposure to respirable silica particles causes scarring of the lungs, leading to fibrosis, respiratory impairment, and lower lung function. There are three types of silicosis:
- Chronic silicosis: Can result from long-term exposure of more than ten years to free crystalline silica dust
- Accelerated or subacute silicosis: Can result from intense exposure to free crystalline silica dust of less than ten years
- Acute silicosis: Can result from extremely high exposure to free crystalline silica dust over a period of several months
What Causes Silicosis?
Activities like drilling, sandblasting, paint removal, or other industry work can release airborne free crystalline silica particles. Inhaling silica dust particles under 10 micrometers in diameter can cause them to penetrate deep into the lungs, embedding in the alveoli. This triggers a cascade of immune responses, forming scar tissue that accumulates over time and impairs respiratory function.
How Long Do You Have to Be Exposed to Silica to Get Silicosis?
No amount of free crystalline silica dust inhalation is considered safe. With acute silicosis, symptoms can appear after only a few weeks or months of exposure. Symptoms include rapid-onset inflammation, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and, ultimately, respiratory failure. Accelerated silicosis generally starts within 10 years of exposure, with fibrosis progressing quickly. It resembles chronic silicosis but appears in a compressed time frame. With chronic silicosis, symptoms can start 10 to 30 years after exposure as pulmonary fibrosis in the upper lung lobes before respiratory symptoms gradually intensify.
Is Silicosis Preventable?
Silicosis is entirely preventable. Workers can protect themselves from getting silicosis by using the proper blasting materials, wearing personal protective equipment and working in safe environments. As a result, it’s up to worksite employers and managers to provide the right materials and gear and take the proper steps to create a workplace where worker health is the top priority.
What Is Silica Sand?
Silica sand is a natural substance high in crystalline silicon dioxide and readily available in tridymite, cristobalite, and quartz. Silica sand is an abrasive media used to remove coatings, unwanted surface residues and corrosion from various materials. It is also used in glassmaking and metal casting, to fill sandboxes, and for construction projects.
In its pure form, silica sand is relatively safe. However, it is hazardous and bio-persistent when it breaks down and becomes respirable, like during blasting, where granules fracture on impact.
What Are the Risks Associated With Silicosis?
Health implications are the most significant risk associated with silicosis. This progressive, often irreversible lung disease can often be fatal as well as increase the risk of other conditions such as:
- Lung cancer
- Chronic bronchitis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Financial Costs
Silicosis imposes a financial burden on individuals who may need to pay costly medical expenses. In some cases, employees with silicosis may be unable to work, leading to further financial issues. Employers also face significant costs, such as compensation claims and employee medical care. At a macroeconomic level, reduced productivity and the need for extensive regulatory oversight can impact industries like mining and construction.
Legal Ramifications
From a legal standpoint, organizations may face serious ramifications if they fail to protect employees. These issues might include lawsuits citing negligence that can result in large settlements or penalties, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict rules for operations using materials that contain free crystalline silica. Regulatory bodies can impose fines, mandate costly changes to equipment or procedures, and halt operations until all requirements are met.
Who Is Most Likely to Get Silicosis?
Silicosis is the most common chronic occupational disease in the world. Workers exposed to silica dust over a long period are at higher risk. High-risk industries include but aren’t limited to:
- Ceramics manufacturing
- Sandblasting
- Mining and hydraulic fracturing
- Foundry work
- Stone countertop fabrication
- Construction work
Prolonged or repeated exposure increases the risk of silicosis, especially for those exposed to silica dust for years without adequate protection. Additional risk factors that may increase a worker’s chances of developing silicosis include:
- Smoking: Smoking can exacerbate the effects of silica dust on the lungs, increasing the likelihood of developing chronic lung diseases.
- Poor ventilation in workplaces: Workspaces without proper ventilation often have a higher silica dust concentration, increasing worker exposure.
- Preexisting conditions: Employees with preexisting lung conditions, such as asthma, are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of silica dust exposure.
What Is a Safe Abrasive Blasting Material?
To protect employees from the risk of silicosis, it is essential to implement safety measures like protective equipment, dust control systems, and regular health monitoring. Worksite managers can also switch to an abrasive product that creates less dust. Low-dust abrasives create less airborne debris and, therefore, reduce exposure risk.
10X superoxalloy abrasives are made of mineral wool insulation, which is biosoluble, and the material has an IARC Monograph, which placed the material in the same carcinogenic risk category as coffee, group 3, which means it is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity in humans. To learn more about the safety of 10X’s products, please visit our safety webpage. 10X superoxalloy abrasives are also the most environmentally safe blasting materials available. Thanks to their high impact strength, these high-performance abrasives minimize dust exposure, resulting in lower abrasive consumption and very fast working speeds.
Superoxalloy abrasives have a random particle arrangement and are amorphous and tempered, giving them their toughness. These products include:
- KinetiX media is suitable for applications requiring a 2.0 to 3.5 mil profile.
- EpiX is our precision-grade abrasive used in equipment manufacturing. It is often used as a glass bead and aluminum oxide substitute and is suitable for applications requiring a 0.5 to 3.0 mil profile.
- DynamiX is used for applications requiring a 3.5 mil or higher profile. It is used in industrial applications like shipyards, rail car maintenance, water tanks, and cladding removal.
Choose Safe Abrasive Blasting From 10X Engineered Materials
Silicosis is a serious yet preventable occupational hazard — even small amounts of free crystalline silica dust can be hazardous to your health. By adhering to safety regulations, controlling dust exposure, and using protective equipment, you can reduce the risk of developing silicosis and protect workers’ health.
At 10X Engineered Materials, we value your and your employees’ safety. Our abrasive materials are vetted by global health authorities and are the only biosoluble abrasives available on the market. They are SSPC AB-1 Certified, California Air Resources Board Approved, and NAVSEA Military QPD: MIL-PRF-22262C listed.
Explore our website today to find the safe abrasive blasting materials you need for your projects. Contact us to learn more about our products, and we’ll get back to you soon.
