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Silicosis: Understanding, Prevention, and Safety Measures

Learn about silicosis, a lung disease caused by silica exposure, its symptoms, risks, prevention, and safe handling measures to protect yourself.

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Silicosis: Understanding, Prevention, and Safety Measures

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  1. Silica and Silicosis Lab Safety Discourse 04-30-2018 Axel Steinbrück

  2. Where Silicosis Comes From Known as “grinder's asthma”, “potter's rot”, ”chemist’s bane” • Results from exposure to airborne silica(NIOSH PEL = 50 µg/m3 over 8h workday) • Inhalation of fine silica dust causes persistent inflammation of the lung tissue • Over time, scar tissue forms and effective surface area of the lung decreases • Particle diameters <10µm are particularly dangerous

  3. What Silicosis Looks Like • Shortness of breath • Fatigue • Persistent cough • Chest pain • Darkening of skin and nails (from poor O2 supply) • Substantially increases risk for tuberculosis, various lung cancers and mesothelioma (>0.1% 10-year survival rate) • There is only prevention; no treatment

  4. Safe Handling of Silica • Our ~60µm silica is above respiratory size • Always wear a dust mask when handling silica(These don’t provide full protection though!) • Silica should only be handled inside a hood • Keep silica containers covered when not in use • Minimize exposure time, avoid agitating silica and refrain from deep breath while handling • Spills should be wetted before collecting(Do not dry-sweep silica!)

  5. If You Breath in a lot of Silica • Move injured person to fresh air • If eye contact, do not rub and use eyewash station • Seek medical advice

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