Silicosis risk factors

• Occupational exposure is the most significant risk factor of silicosis. Excavations in mines, tunnels, quarries, and underground galleries, quarrying, cutting and polishing siliceous rock, and manufacturing of silicon-based products are all associated with increased risk of developing silicosis.

The risk of developing silicosis is associated with the cumulative exposure of an individual to crystalline silica.

• Accumulated silica dose = Fraction of respirable dust × % of free silica in mg/m3 × Number of years of exposure^[1]
  
  

Occupational exposure is the most significant risk factor of silicosis.

• The most common occupations that involve exposure to silicosis are shown below:

• Excavations in mines, tunnels, quarries, underground galleries
• Quarrying, cutting and polishing siliceous rock
• Dry cutting, grinding, sieving and manipulation of minerals and rock
• Manufacturing of silicon carbide, glass, porcelain, earthenware and other ceramic products
• Manufacturing and maintenance of abrasives and detergent powders
• Foundry work: cast shakeout, sprue removal and blast cleaning
• Milling work: polishing, filing products containing free silica
• Sandblasting^[2] and grinding
• Pottery industry
• Handling quartz conglomerates and ornamental stone
• Dental prostheses

• A few cases of non-occupational silicosis have been reported in communities at proximity to industries like quarries and sand works.
• In addition to environmental, genetic factors such as polymorphisms for TNF-α gene is associated with more severe silicosis^[3]

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