Health Hazards
This incurable lung disease is the primary illness caused by long-term inhalation of silica dust.
Silicosis.
Name one job that commonly works with stone, concrete, or sand and is exposed to silica dust.
Any of these answers work:
Construction worker, Countertop fabricator, Miner
This U.S. state was the location of the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster.
Under typical industrial exposure silicosis usually takes this long or longer to develop.
Between 10-30+ years
Approxamately this many workers are exposed to silica dust in the U.S. annually.
100,000+ workers.
Silica dust, being recognised as a type 1 human carcinogen, can also cause this.
Lung Cancer
Workers in this industry-responsible for shaping and installing countertops- have recently experienced a major surge in silicosis cases.
Engineered Stone Fabrication
Workers at Hawk's Nest developed silicosis in this unusually short time period.
2-6 months
The most common form of silicosis. Develops slowly after long-term, low to moderate exposure.
Chronic Silicosis
The number of annual U.S. silicosis deaths dropped by approximately this percent between 1999-2018.
approximately 53%
This condition, which silica exposure can cause, involves permanent scarring of lung tissue that reduces lung elasticity.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
This major industry involves blasting, drilling or crushing rock, placing workers among the higest risk for silica exposure.
Mining and Quarrying
This estimated number of worker deaths make the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster the worst individual silica tragedy in U.S. history.
Estimated between 700-1,500+ deaths
This severe form of silicosis seen at Hawk's Nest is caused due to rapid, intense exposure.
Acute Silicosis
This is OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit for Respirable Crystalline Silica.
50μg/m³ (8-hour TWA)