Silicosis
Overview
Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.
Symptoms
The symptoms of silicosis usually take many years to develop, and you may not notice any problems until after you've stopped working with silica dust. The symptoms can also continue to get worse, even if you're no longer exposed. Silicosis usually develops after being exposed to silica for 10-20 years, although it can sometimes develop after 5-10 years of exposure. Occasionally, it can occur after only a few months of very heavy exposure. The main symptoms of silicosis are: a persistentcoughpersistentshortness of breathweakness and tiredness If the condition continues to get worse, these symptoms may become more severe. Some people may eventually find simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs very difficult and may be largely confined to their house or bed. The condition can ultimately be fatal if the lungs stop working properly (respiratory failure) or serious complications develop, but this is rare in the UK.
Prevention
Silicosis can be prevented by avoiding prolonged exposure to silica dust. In the UK, all workplaces must comply with The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, which sets a workplace exposure limit for silica. Your employer should: warn you about any risks to your healthmake sure you're aware of the correct procedures to reduce your risk of exposure to silica dustsupply you with the necessary equipment to protect you
When to see a doctor
See your GP if you think there's a possibility you could have silicosis. They'll ask you about your symptoms and work history, and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. They'll want to know about any periods when you may have been exposed to silica and whether you were issued with any safety equipment, such as a face mask, when you were working. If silicosis is suspected, you may be referred to a specialist for further tests to confirm the diagnosis. Tests you may have include: a chestX-rayto detect abnormalities in the structure of your lungsacomputerised tomography (CT) scanof your chest to produce more detailed images of your lungslung function testing (spirometry), which involves breathing into a machine called a spirometer to assess how well your lungs are working A test for TB may also be recommended because you're more likely to get TB if you have silicosis.