Why silica dust could become the ‘new asbestos’ health risk

Sub: Sci

Sec: Pollution

New Limits for Silica Dust Exposure:

New exposure limits to silica dust in various industries could save about 13,000 lives globally.
Current “acceptable” exposure limits pose serious risks of silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease.
Researchers recommend reducing exposure from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3 over a working day to mitigate risks.

The Threat of Silicosis:

Silicosis is a respiratory disease which causes a hardening of the lungs. It is caused by silica dust or silica crystals, which are found in soil, sand, concrete, mortar, granite and artificial stone.
It is a progressive disease with no cure, often developing over 10-20 years of exposure.
Silicosis can lead to other serious conditions, including lung cancer.

How Silica Dust Affects Workers:

Silica dust is released when materials like concrete and stone are cut or drilled.
Poor industrial safety standards increase the risk of inhaling this fine dust.
Millions of people worldwide are estimated to have silicosis, though data is scarce, especially in developing countries.

Study Findings on Reducing Silica Dust Exposure:

A meta-analysis of eight studies involving 65,977 participants found that halving exposure to silica dust could reduce silicosis cases by 77%.
The UK and most European countries have an occupational limit of 0.1 mg/m3, but lowering this to 0.05 mg/m3 aligns with US standards.

Achievability of Reducing Silica Dust Exposure:

Reducing silica dust exposure to safer levels is achievable, as demonstrated by the US and Australia.
Australia has even banned the use of engineered stone due to its high silica dust release.
Effective measures include using water suppression methods, better ventilation, and personal protective equipment.
The situation is more severe in developing countries where safety measures are often lacking.

Source: IE