Silicosis

Silicosis is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by overexposure to respirable crystalline silica. More than one million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica, and each year more than 250 die from silicosis. There is no cure for the disease, but it is 100 percent preventable if employers, workers, and health professionals work together to reduce exposures.

Silica Technical Advisor (public test version) is an expert training and information aid. It includes current information that will assist businesses and workers in identifying potential silica hazards in their workplaces by choosing appropriate sampling and analytical techniques, comparing monitoring results with the silica exposure limits, and selecting appropriate short-term and long-term control options.

See Also:

Recognition

• Crystalline Silica Exposures in Construction. Ellen I. Roznowski, OSHA (1997, July), 3 pages. This article describes construction activities that involve silica exposures, including case studies and OSHA enforcement data.
• OPA Press Release: Labor secretary calls for an end to Silicosis. DOL Press Release (1996, October 31), 3 pages. Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich announces the silica public education program, "If It's Silica, It's Not Just Dust."
• Preventing Silicosis. NIOSH/DOL summary sheet (1996, October 31), 3 pages. A general information sheet on silicosis disease.
• Silica (Crystalline). Summary Sheet, OSHA Priority Planning Process (1996, February 5), 3 pages. Describes the current regulatory status of silica, and designates silica as a priority for comprehensive rulemaking to reduce the burden of silica-related diseases.
• Silica Dust Exposures Can Cause Silicosis. OSHA Fact Sheet 96-54 (1996, January 1), 3 pages. Provides summary information regarding silicosis disease, silica exposures, and controls.
• Silicosis Prevention Furthered by NIOSH Pilot Program Aiding Identification of Cases in Seven Participating States. NIOSH Update (1997, March 25), 2 pages. Describes a program used to gather occupational information on silicosis disease and silica exposures.
• NIOSH Warns of Silicosis Risks in Construction, Suggests Measures to Reduce Exposure. NIOSH Update, Publication No. 96-120 (1996, June), 3 pages. More information regarding silica in the construction industry.
• Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Construction Workers. NIOSH Alert, Publication No. 96-112 (1996), 10 pages. An extensive document including information on crystalline silica, silicosis disease, exposure limits, case studies, and examples of exposures at construction sites.
• Prevention of Silicosis Deaths. NIOSH Update, Publication No. 93-124 (1993), 2 pages. Also available as a 12 KB PDF file. Describes silica hazards in sandblasting operations and summarizes precautions.
• NIOSH Issues Nationwide Alert on Silicosis. NIOSH Update, Publication No. 93-123 (1992, November 18), 3 pages. Summarizes and updates Publication No. 92-107 (Rock Drillers).
• Preventing Silicosis and Death in Rock Drillers. NIOSH Alert, Publication No. 92-107 (1992, August), 20 pages. Contains silica hazard information for rock drillers; includes case studies and control measures.
• Preventing Silicosis and Deaths from Sandblasting. NIOSH Alert, Publication No. 92-102 (1992, August), 20 pages. Contains silica hazard information for abrasive blasting; includes case studies and control measures.
• Silica Flour: Silicosis (Crystalline Silica). NIOSH Current 36, Publication No. 81-137 (1981, June 30), 9 pages. Describes hazards in the silica flour industry and provides control recommendations.
• Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica. NIOSH Criteria Document, Publication No. 75-120 (1974), 1 page. Sections of this document are broken down into several PDF files. This is an older document containing information on health effects, environmental data, work practices, and development of the standard.
• Silicosis in Construction. Demolition Magazine (1997, Mar/Apr), 7 pages. A recent article summarizing silicosis in construction, including information on silicosis disease, sources of exposure, exposure limits, and control measures.
• The Campaign to End Silicosis. Job Safety & Health Quarterly (1997, Winter/Spring), 4 pages, 243 KB PDF file. Discusses the national education campaign, "If It's Silica, It's Not Just Dust."
• Crystalline Silica Primer. U.S. Bureau of Mines, Branch of Industrial Minerals (1992), 54 pages, 3.4 MB PDF file. A good starting point for anyone wanting to learn about crystalline silica; includes info on silica itself and other pertinent regulatory information.
• What Rock Drillers can do to Protect their Lungs from Silica Dust. MSHA/OSHA/NIOSH joint bulletin, 3 pages. Includes general hazard and control information for rock drilling.

Silicosis Disease

• Are Other Health Effects of Silica Exposure Being Overlooked? David F. Goldsmith, PhD, Public Health Institute (1997, July 8), 2 pages. Discusses other health effects of silica that are commonly overlooked.
• Pitfalls in Diagnosing Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) for Purposes of Compensation. Lawrence Martin, MD, 10 pages. Lists and summarizes several pitfalls that can occur when physicians diagnose occupational lung diseases.
• Reasonably Anticipated to be Carcinogen: Silica, Crystalline (Respirable Size). National Toxicology Program, The 8th Report on Carcinogens (1998), 3 pages, 132 KB PDF file. NTP profile on crystalline silica.
• An Epidemic of Accelerated Silicosis in Oilfield Sandblasters. SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse, 2 pages. An epidemiological and medical study involving pathology and lung particulate burden.
• Occupational Silicosis – Ohio, 1989-1994. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 44/No. 4 (1995, February 3), 4 pages, 253 KB PDF file. This report describes the investigation of a report of occupational silicosis in Ohio and summarizes the impact of hospital-based reporting on surveillance for silicosis in Ohio during 1989-1994.
• Surveillance for Silicosis, 1993 – Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 46/No. SS-1 (1997, January 31), 20 pages, 734 KB PDF file. Surveillance information on silicosis disease.
• Silicosis Health Hazard Evaluation (summary). NIOSH HHE (1993), 2 pages. Summary of a medical survey conducted at a minerals company.

Evaluation

• Crystalline Silicas:
  • Silica, Crystalline Cristobalite, Respirable Dust (1993), 1 page.
  • Silica, Crystalline Quartz, Respirable Dust (1993), 1 page.
  • Silica, Crystalline Tridymite, Respirable Dust (1996), 1 page.
  • Silica, Crystalline Tripoli (as Quartz), Respirable Dust (1993), 1 page.
  • Silica (Quartz, Total) (1993), 1 page.
  • Coal Dust (> or = 5% SiO₂) (Respirable Quartz Fraction) (1993), 1 page.
• Partial list of substances that may contain crystalline silica >1%:
  • Graphite, natural respirable dust (1991), 1 page.
  • Soapstone (Total Dust) (1995), 1 page.
  • Soapstone (Respirable Fraction) (1993), 1 page.
  • Portland Cement (Total Dust) (1995), 1 page.
• Other:
  • Silica, Amorphous, Diatomaceous Earth (<% Crystalline Silica) (1993), 1 page.
  • Silica, Amorphous, Precipitated and Gel (1993), 1 page.
  • Silica, Fused (Respirable Dust) (1993), 1 page.
  • Coal Dust (<% SiO₂, Respirable Fraction) (1993), 1 page.

• Analytical Methods
  • NIOSH 7500, Silica, Crystalline, Respirable (XRD) (1994, August 15), 9 pages, 35 KB PDF file. Also available as a compressed WordPerfect 5.1 file in ZIP format.
  • NIOSH 7501, Silica, Amorphous (XRD) (1994, August 15), 7 pages, 29 KB PDF file. Also available as a compressed WordPerfect 5.1 file in ZIP format.
  • NIOSH 7601, Silica, Crystalline (VIS) (1994, August 15), 6 pages, 23 KB PDF file. Also available as a compressed WordPerfect 5.1 file in ZIP format.
  • NIOSH 7602, Silica, Crystalline (IR) (1994, August 15), 6 pages, 22 KB PDF file. Also available as a compressed WordPerfect 5.1 file in ZIP format.
  • NIOSH 7603, Silica, Crystalline in coal mine dust (IR) (1994, August 15), 6 pages, 26 KB PDF file. Available as a compressed WordPerfect 5.1 file in ZIP format.
  • MSHA Quartz Analytical Method (P-7), Infrared Determination of Quartz in Respirable Coal Mine Dust (1994, November 14), 14 pages.
• Occupational Health Guideline for Crystalline Silica. DHHS (NIOSH) (1981, January), 5 pages, 231 KB PDF file. Contained in NIOSH/OSHA Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards, NIOSH Publication No. 81-123. Provides evaluation information for employers, industrial hygienists, physicians, etc.
• Cyclone Leak Test Procedure.  OSHA Cincinnati Technical Center (1997, September 15), 20 pages.   Describes a method of leak testing cyclone sampler assemblies used for respirable sampling of silica.
• Laboratory Selection – Criteria That Can Be Used to Select a Laboratory. Dr. Martin Harper, SKC, Inc. and Sandra C. Wroblewski, Kemper/NATLSCO, 9 pages, 182 KB PDF file. Includes a checklist/questionnaire that can be used when selecting a laboratory.
• Silica Industrial Hygiene Monitoring – OSHA Consultation Program. LeRoy Dobson and George Gruetzmacher, OSHA, 3 pages, 39 KB PDF file. A short slide presentation.
• Overview of Analytical Procedure (picture flowchart). LeRoy Dobson and George Gruetzmacher. OSHA, 1 page, 1.7 MB PDF file.

Control

• OSHA Special Emphasis Program (SEP) for Silicosis. OSHA (1996, May), 22 pages. This memorandum provides inspection targeting guidance for implementing an OSHA-wide Special Emphasis Program (SEP) to reduce and eliminate the workplace incidence of silicosis from exposure to crystalline silica.
  • OSHA News Release – OSHA Launches National Special Emphasis Program To Reduce Worker Silica Dust Exposures That Can Cause Silicosis. OSHA News Release USDL: 96-172 (1996, May 8), 3 pages.
• Controlling Silica Dust from Foundry Casting-Cleaning Operations. NIOSH Hazard Controls (HC 23), Publication No. 98-106 (1997, December), 2 pages. Also available as a 67 KB PDF file. A brief article discussing one type of ventilation control.
• NIOSH-Supported Study Examines Substitutes for Silica Sand to Further Efforts in Silicosis Prevention. NIOSH Update (1997, March 25), 2 pages. A research study examining the performance of other abrasive materials.
• NIOSH Respirator Users' Notice: Attention: All Users of Type CE, Abrasive-Blast Supplied Air Respirators. NIOSH (1996, May 23), 2 pages. This notice updates information on the kinds of respirators approved for abrasive-blast (sandblasting) operations and provides recommendations for selection and use of these respirators.
• Silicosis in Western Australia from 1984 to 1993. Dr. KC Wan and Dr. E. Lee, WorkSafe Western Australia, 4 pages. A review of 110 silicosis cases in Western Australia caused from exposure to silica in mining.
• Protecting Workers from Crystalline Silica Exposure. Larry Grabiak, Compliance Magazine (1996, April), 5 pages. This article addresses the health and safety aspects associated with crystalline silica, the OSHA standards that regulate worker exposure to crystalline silica, and the basic elements of a crystalline silica worker protection program.
• Safe Sandblast Cleaning. Government of Manitoba, 2 pages. Discusses controls required for sandblasting, including respiratory protection, PPE, work practices, and other sandblasting equipment requirements.

Compliance

• OSHA Standards
  • 1910.94, Ventilation. Contains respiratory protection requirements for abrasive blasting operations.
  • 1910.1000, Air contaminants.
    • Table Z-1, Limits for Air Contaminants. This table refers the reader to Table Z-3.
    • Table Z-3, Mineral Dusts. Contains the actual PELs for crystalline silica.
  • 1915.34, Mechanical paint removers. Contains respiratory protection requirements for abrasive blasting operations.
  • 1915.1000, Air contaminants. The "Mineral Dusts" table contains PELs for crystalline silica for Shipyard Employment.
  • 1926.55, Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists.
    • 1926.55 App A, Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists. The "Mineral Dusts" table contains PELs for crystalline silica in the Construction industry.
  • 1926.57, Ventilation. Contains respiratory protection requirements for abrasive blasting operations.
• Preambles to OSHA Standards
  • Air Contaminants, Section 6 – VI, Health Effects Discussion and Determination of Final PEL (1989, July 5). Includes information on silica, silicosis, etc.
• OSHA Directives
  • Crystalline Silica. CPL 2-2.7 (1978, October 30), 18 pages.

Training

• Crystalline Silica Exposure in General Industry. OSHA, 2 pages, 52 KB PDF file. Health hazard information card to be provided to workers.
• Crystalline Silica Exposure in the Construction Industry. OSHA, 2 pages, 54 KB PDF file. Health hazard information card to be provided to workers.
• A Guide to Working Safely with Silica – If it's Silica, it's Not Just Dust. NIOSH (1997, January 31), 21 pages, 213 KB PDF file. An employee guide produced by DOL and NIOSH.
• Construction Workers: It's Not Just Dust! ... Prevent Silicosis. NIOSH Publication No. 97-101 (1997), 3 pages. Silicosis fact sheet for construction workers.
• As a follow up to the 1997 National Conference to Eliminate Silicosis, the Office of Training and Education is making available to the public its revised slide program "Safety and Health Factors for Working with Silica." The program gives an overview of the health hazards of crystalline silica, the industries in which dust exposure occurs, and steps employers and employees can take to minimize the risk of illness from the use of this hazardous material.

  The package includes 78 slides, an 8-page handout, two 2-page laser masters for producing silica pocket cards for construction and general industry, a 15-page script and an introduction. It is available from the National Audiovisual Center/National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royale Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161. The order number is AVA 20000SS00. Price is $90.00 plus a $4.00 handling fee per order. Purchase orders require an additional $7.50 billing fee. Additional information may be obtained by calling (703) 487-4650. Orders may be sent by fax to (703) 321-8547.

Other Resources

• NIOSH Silicosis Prevention Homepage.
• NIOSH – Other WWW Sites on Silica/Silicosis.
• MSHA Silicosis Prevention Homepage.
• Dust & Toxic Substance Control Research Projects. Pittsburgh and Spokane Research Laboratories, Mining Health and Safety Research.

---

| About Us | Asbestos | Commercial | Fen - Phen | Silicosis | Breast Implants | Location |