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Silicosis
Silicosis is a fibronodular lung disease found in workers who inhale large amounts of silica dust into their lungs. Common in the mining, foundry and refinery industries, silica usually begins with few or no symptoms at all, but can blossom into a dangerous disease leading to lung cancer, tuberculosis, lung transplants, or even death. Silica is 100 percent preventable with the proper safety equipment, and treatments include antibiotics and cough-suppression methods.
Fast Facts
| Disease name: | Silicosis |
| Cause: | Inhalation of significant amounts of silica dust found at construction and other occupational sites |
| Symptoms: | Symptoms may not initially be severe, but may eventually include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, change in breathing patterns and loss of appetite. |
| Treatment: | Antibiotics, mitigation of exacerbating effects, cough treatment, lung transplant in extreme cases |
| Industries: | Mining, sandblasting, refineries, refractories, foundries, raw materials plants, furnace installation, casting plants |
| Related topics: | Occupational disease, asbestos, silica |
Silicosis Presents Occupational Risks
Silicosis is a fibronodular lung disease caused by inhaling excessive amounts of silica dust. Silica is a common mineral found in sand and rock. In fact, it is the second most-often occurring mineral... read more
Silicosis Litigation on the Rise
In the early 1930s, a mining scandal in Hawk’s Nest, West Virginia rocketed the country, calling attention to the dangers of an industrial mineral called crystalline silica. A construction... read more
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Jury Verdicts Related to Silicosis
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MSN Newsfeeds Related to Silicosis
WASHINGTON DIGEST: House approves mine safety bill Operators would ...
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News Articles Related to Silicosis
B.C. to expand health screening of newborns: Campbell
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Books Related to Silicosis
Protect Yourself From Business Lawsuits: and Lawyers Like Me
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