Negative Effects of Silica Dust When Inhaled
The majority of workers filing for industrial disease compensation are suffering from different forms of lung diseases. Among the personal injury at work-related lung diseases a good example is Silicosis. Silicosis is a continuous disease which is caused by inhalation of silica particles. Silica is a natural compound commonly found in quartz, sand, flint, and various minerals which is used make a variety of different materials like abrasives, concrete, glass, etc.
People susceptible to silicosis are the ones working in mines, construction, glass factory, stone cutters, and so on. This illness leads to scarring and formation of lumps in the lung. It will take 10-15 years before the symptoms begin to manifest. There are different types of silicosis such as simple chronic silicosis, accelerated silicosis, complicated silicosis, and acute silicosis.
A simple chronic silicosis is the effect of prolonged exposure to low amount of silica dust. It usually causes lung inflammation and the formation of chest lymph nodes. Patients may suffer from chronic coughing and shortness of breath. The symptoms may show after 10-30 years from the first contact with silica particles.
Accelerated silicosis begins within 5 to 10 years upon the very first contact with high volume of silica particles. The symptoms are similar to simple chronic silicosis, but the progress of the disease personal injury at work is much faster. Accelerated silicosis patients are in danger of acquiring a more complicated disease.
Complicated silicosis is the severe type of silicosis leading to progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) or the buildup of thick fibrosis around the upper lung zone. Severe fibrosis can exceed to more than 1 centimeter in thickness. Complicated silicosis may develop into complex lung diseases like fungal infection, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. People with accelerated silicosis are most prone to suffer from complicated silicosis.
Acute silicosis is a result of being exposed to massive amount of silica dust in a short period. It also starts within a matter personal injury at work of weeks to 5 years time, starting from the first contact with silica dust. The symptoms will start to manifest rapidly, causing shortness of breath, weight loss, coughing, and sometimes resulting in death.
Because symptoms of silicosis take years to surface, early symptoms may be dyspnea, coughing, fever, changes in skin color, weight loss, etc. X-ray test can rule out or confirm if the person is indeed afflicted with silicosis. This disease is incurable; the use of safety equipment when working with materials that are rich in silica dust.
People susceptible to silicosis are the ones working in mines, construction, glass factory, stone cutters, and so on. This illness leads to scarring and formation of lumps in the lung. It will take 10-15 years before the symptoms begin to manifest. There are different types of silicosis such as simple chronic silicosis, accelerated silicosis, complicated silicosis, and acute silicosis.
A simple chronic silicosis is the effect of prolonged exposure to low amount of silica dust. It usually causes lung inflammation and the formation of chest lymph nodes. Patients may suffer from chronic coughing and shortness of breath. The symptoms may show after 10-30 years from the first contact with silica particles.
Accelerated silicosis begins within 5 to 10 years upon the very first contact with high volume of silica particles. The symptoms are similar to simple chronic silicosis, but the progress of the disease personal injury at work is much faster. Accelerated silicosis patients are in danger of acquiring a more complicated disease.
Complicated silicosis is the severe type of silicosis leading to progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) or the buildup of thick fibrosis around the upper lung zone. Severe fibrosis can exceed to more than 1 centimeter in thickness. Complicated silicosis may develop into complex lung diseases like fungal infection, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. People with accelerated silicosis are most prone to suffer from complicated silicosis.
Acute silicosis is a result of being exposed to massive amount of silica dust in a short period. It also starts within a matter personal injury at work of weeks to 5 years time, starting from the first contact with silica dust. The symptoms will start to manifest rapidly, causing shortness of breath, weight loss, coughing, and sometimes resulting in death.
Because symptoms of silicosis take years to surface, early symptoms may be dyspnea, coughing, fever, changes in skin color, weight loss, etc. X-ray test can rule out or confirm if the person is indeed afflicted with silicosis. This disease is incurable; the use of safety equipment when working with materials that are rich in silica dust.