Silicosis is a disease of the lungs which occurs over an extended length of time due to inhaling very small particles of free silica or quartz in the air. This disease is also known as Potter’s rot. It is the most common occupational lung disease in the entire world. Although the prevalence of the disease has declined in the US in recent years, it is a very serious issue in developing nations.

Silica is a natural crystal and the main component of sand. However it is also a compound derived from granite, sandstone, glass, hard coal, gold and lead. The threat of contracting the disease is therefore higher among population of workers that either work with or mine those materials.

After the silica particles have been breathed in through normal respiration via the nose or mouth, they rest in the very small airways of the lungs (or ‘bronchi’) and form large areas of fibrous tissue due to the immune cells in the body (known as ‘macrophages’) being poisoned by the silica particles. This causes inflammation of the lung tissue for which there is no cure yet unfortunately.

Early symptoms of silicosis include shortness of breath and fever. The build up of tissue in the lungs results in a lack of Oxygen being processed by the organ and in turn results in shortness of breath. In the most serious cases of Silicosis, people have trouble with breathing and coughing fits are common. This in turn can then lead to pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Though Silicosis can have serious affects on a patient’s health, the disease can easily be prevented. In recent years cases have declined due to improved working practices for employees working with the problem materials. For example face masks are now standard equipment for miners exposed to silica particles and precautions should always be made to prevent the very real threat of Silicosis.