Silicosis: The Forgotten Cousin of Asbestosis and Mesothelioma
Written by: Robert Short

Silicosis, Mesothelioma and Asbestosis are all three occupational
related diseases that are preventable.

Silicosis is a respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of
silica dust, which leads to inflammation and scarring of the lung
tissue. Similar to Mesothelioma and Asbestosis, Silicosis
silently caused millions of industry related health issues and
deaths before it was discovered and could be properly diagnosed.

The main cause of Silicosis is long-term exposure to silica.
Silica is a common, naturally occurring crystal. It is found in
most rock beds and forms dust during mining, quarrying,
tunneling, construction and work with many metal ores. Silica is
a main component of sand, so glass workers, sand-blasters and
construction laborers also receive heavy exposure to silica.

Risk factors for Silicosis include but are not limited to any
work that includes exposure to silica dust. Mining, stone and
concrete cutting, quarrying, road and building construction, work
with abrasives manufacturing, sand blasting and many other
occupations and hobbies involve exposure to silica.

Intense exposure to silica may result in symptoms of or full
blown Silicosis in a year or less, but it usually takes at least
10 or 15 years of exposure before most symptoms of Silicosis
develop. Silicosis as well as Mesothelioma and Asbestosis have
become less common since the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) instituted laws and regulations requiring
the use of protective equipment, to be provided by employers,
that limit the amount of a worker's hazardous material exposure.
Now, in most cases, it is legally and lawfully the responsibility
of your employer to protect you by providing personal protection
equipment (PPE).

The three different types of Silicosis are:

* Acute Silicosis -- results from short-term exposure to very
large amounts of silica. The lungs become very inflamed and may
fill with fluid, causing severe shortness of breath and low blood
oxygen levels.

* Accelerated Silicosis -- occurs after exposure to larger
amounts of silica over a shorter period of time (5 - 15 years).
Inflammation, scarring, and symptoms progress faster in
accelerated silicosis than in simple silicosis.

* Simple chronic silicosis -- results from long-term exposure
(more than 20 years) to low amounts of silica dust. Nodules of
chronic inflammation and scarring provoked by the silica dust
form in the lungs and chest lymph nodes. This disease may feature
breathlessness and may resemble chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD).

If you feel that you are in an industry with a high risk of
exposure to silica dust, or any other hazardous material, you
should take it upon yourself to use every method necessary to
protect yourself from exposure. It is important to discuss any
health concerns that you may have with your employer and have
your employer provide you with the personal protective equipment
required by law to minimize your exposure to hazardous materials
such as silica. It is legally your employer's responsibility to
provide you with safety devices that will protect you but it is
ultimately your responsibility to protect your health and the
health of your family.

If your employer is lax or refuses to provide for your safety, it
is important that you contact your local, state or federal agency
that oversees health and safety law and compliance to report it
right away. In most situations you can report any negligence
anonymously to prevent being singled out and demoted or fired by
your employer. Many times your employer will be forced to comply
with the laws by the governing agency and your problems will be
solved. As an employer myself, I see the need to protect my
employees at any cost because they are not only my most valued
assets they are people with families and simply deserve to live
and work in the safest environment possible. If your employer
does not feel this way, you should not feel one bit of remorse if
you have to report abuse to the proper authorities.

If you feel that you have been negligently exposed to Silica, or
any other hazardous material and are now experiencing health
related issues from it, you should contact a competent lawyer or
law office immediately and discuss your situation with them. You
may be entitled to compensation due to your employer's
negligence. There are lawyers and attorneys that specialize in
Silicosis, Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and a vast array of other
occupational health related diseases.




---------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) 2006 New Hampshire Concrete Cutting, All Rights Reserved

Written by: Robert Short
New Hampshire Concrete Cutting and Core Drilling provides
concrete cutting and core drilling services to the contractor
and homeowner in New Hampshire or NH. Visit our website at
http://www.affordableconcretecutting.net for more information
on concrete cutting and core drilling.