Silicosis


Silicosis is a disease caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica.

Many people working in the foundry, steel, sandblasting, refractory, construction, brick, and stone industries historically have been exposed to high levels of respirable silica.

Prolonged inhalation of silica may cause silcosis, a disabling and nonreversible fibrotic condition of the lung, as well as lung cancer, lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis.