Silicosis Injury Lawyer

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER

Silicosis is an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling particles of silica, a mineral found in sand, rocks, and mineral ores. Construction workers, sandblasters, miners, and others who were exposed to and inhaled silica may be at risk for developing this disabling, even deadly, disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 million U.S. workers have been exposed to silica dust. Each year, more than 250 workers die of silicosis. If you have ever worked or lived near where silica dust is present, or if you have been diagnosed with silicosis, call our office for a free consultation.

What is silica?
Silica is found in several different forms and is a major component of sand, rock, and mineral ores. Quartz, a form of silica, is the second most common mineral in the earth’s crust and is associated with many types of rock. Silica has many important uses, including filler for paint and rubber, glass making, ceramics, and construction.

What are the types of silicosis?
There are three types of silicosis, depending upon the airborne concentration of silica to which a worker has been exposed:

Chronic silicosis usually occurs after 10 or more years of exposure to crystalline silica. It is the most common form of the disease and may go undetected for years in the early stages.

Accelerated silicosis results from higher exposures and develops over 5-10 years.

Acute silicosis occurs where exposures are the highest and can cause symptoms to develop with a few weeks or up to five years.

What are the dangers of silicosis?
Once silica dust enters the lungs and becomes trapped, the lung tissue scars and forms nodules. The nodules become larger as the condition worsens, making breathing increasingly difficult. Eventually, disability and/or death may follow. In addition, silicosis places workers at a higher risk for developing tuberculosis and bronchitis. Some studies have even linked silicosis with lung cancer.

Who is at risk?
Working in or living near any dusty environment where silica dust is present can increase a person’s chances of getting silicosis. Some examples of industries that may be at greater risk for silica exposure include:

• Construction (sandblasting, rock drilling, masonry work, jack hammering, tunneling)
• Mining (cutting or drilling through sandstone and granite)
• Foundry work (grinding, moldings, shakeout, core room)
• Ceramics, clay, and pottery
• Manufacturing (soaps, detergents, use of abrasives)
• Stone cutting (sawing, abrasive blasting, chipping, grinding)
• Glass manufacturing
• Agriculture (dusty conditions from plowing or harvesting)
• Shipbuilding (abrasive blasting)
• Railroad (setting and laying track)

What are the symptoms of silicosis?
In the early stages, workers with silicosis may have no symptoms. As the disease progresses, workers may develop one or more of the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath following physical exertion
• Severe cough
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pains
• Fever
• Bluish skin (ear lobes or lips)

What treatments are available?
There is no known effective treatment or cure for silicosis. Once silica dust has been inhaled, it cannot be removed from the lungs. However, silicosis is preventable if certain safety precautions are enforced by employers, such as adequate respiratory protection and air monitoring programs.

What should I do if I’ve been exposed to silica dust?
If you have been exposed to silica dust in the workplace and have experienced any of the symptoms listed above, it is important to immediately contact a doctor who has experience in lung diseases. Because silicosis may develop slowly over a period of many years, it is possible that you may have had the disease for a long time without knowing it. A medical examination that includes a complete work history, chest x-ray, and lung function test is the only way to determine if you have silicosis. Contact our lawyers today for an immediate and confidential evaluation of your case.

All facts: the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)

This law firm is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or associated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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