To My Doctor: What Physicians Need to Know about Silicosis in Construction, Demolition, and Renovation Workers

This document should be filed in the medical records of:

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Patient’s name and social security number

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Patient’s occupation and union affiliation

Construction, Demolition, and Renovation Workers Are at Risk of Developing Silicosis
Crystalline silica is found in materials, such as those listed below, which are often present during construction, demolition, and renovation projects. When these materials are made into a fine dust by tasks listed below, the inhalation and deposition of these fine particles can produce silicosis over time.

Construction Materials Containing Crystalline Silica:
blasting abrasives, brick, refractory brick, concrete, concrete block, cement mortar, granite, sandstone, quartzite, slate, gunite, mineral deposits, rock and stone, sand, fill dirt, topsoil, asphalt containing rock or stone

Tasks Associated with Silica Exposure:
Abrasive blasting using sand or other abrasive containing crystalline silica.

• Abrasive blasting of concrete.
• Demolition of concrete and masonry structures.
• Chipping, cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, jack hammering concrete, masonry, or mortar.
• Crushing, loading, hauling, dumping rock, stone, or sand.
• Gunite spraying.
• Chipping, hammering, drilling rock.
• Dry sweeping or pressurized air blocking of concrete, rock, or sand dust.

High Risk Trades and Occupations
Many construction, demolition, and renovation occupations are at risk, including: Abbrasive blasters, masonry workers (bricklayers, stone masons), laborers, operating engineers, painters and plasterers, plumbers, and truck drivers.

Other occupations that do not work directly with construction materials or tasks involving silica may be exposed as bystanders if they are in the construction, demolition, or renovation area when crystalline silica containing materials are being used.

Definition and Clinical Features
Silicosis is a diffuse, nodular, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis caused by a tissue reaction to inhaled crystalline silica dust. It can take the acute form under conditions of intense exposure but usually takes the chronic form, requiring several to many years to develop. People who have silicosis have increased susceptibility to infections such as tuberculosis, complicating the patient’s prognosis. There is also increasing evidence that crystalline silica causes cancer and that the individuals with silicosis are at increased risk of developing lung cancer.

Except in its acute form, silicosis begins with a few, if any, symptoms. When clinical symptoms of silicosis are present, they could include cough and shortness of breath of increasing severity. On physical examination, breath sounds may be normal or distant and, with increased severity, there may be signs of heart failure. Evidence of pathological response to silica exposure exists well before symptoms occur.

Chronic reactions, occurring after 10 or more years from first exposure, involve nodular lesions, (bilateral, multiple, rounded opacities) often more prominent in the upper lobes. In this simple stage of silicosis, nodules are usually small (1 centimeter or less). There may be little effect on pulmonary function at this stage.

Complicated silicosis or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) also usually develops in the upper lobes but the nodules go on to consolidate and exceed 1 centimeter and encompass blood vessels and airways. Lung function may be severely compromised, often with a mixed restrictive/obstructive pattern, but either pure restriction or obstruction may be seen.

Acute reactions may appear within a few weeks to two years after the onset of massive exposure. The distinguishing feature of acute silicosis is intraalveolar deposits, similar to those seen with alveolar proteinosis. In contrast to the nodular fibrosis seen in the chronic form, diffuse interstitial fibrosis is not found. Silicosis developing in less than 10 years, the accelerated form, has been described most often in sandblasters. In these cases, diffuse fibrosis is likely to develop and may be located throughout all lobes of the lung.

Clinical Signs of Silicosis
Simple: mild restrictive and/or obstructive defects, small rounded opacities on x-ray
Accelerated: diffuse, small rounded opacities on x-ray, more severe restrictive and/or obstructive defects
Advanced: increased profusion of small opacities and development of large opacities on x-ray, more severe restrictive and/or obstructive defects, cor pulmonale
Acute: diffuse perihilar alveolar filling process with ground glass opacities on x-ray

Progression of disease and radiographic findings can continue even after exposure has ended.

Recommended Medical Surveillance

The following are recommended by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as a baseline for exposure, then periodically noted:

1. Occupational history to determine years of exposure-update annually. Inquire about the materials used and tasks performed listed above. In addition, inquire about employment in non-construction industries with silica exposure-foundries, quarries, mining, tile, clay, glass, and cement manufacture.
2. Medical exam emphasizing the respiratory system-annually.
3. Chest x-ray to look for evidence of abnormality. Posteroanterior 14” x 17” or 14” x 14”, classified according to the 1980 Guidelines for the Use of ILO Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis by a certified class “B” reader, is recommended. The ILO system has the distinct advantage of a standardized set of comparison x-ray films. Names of B-readers are available from NIOSH. Information on how to contact NIOSH is given at the end of section. Recommendations for the frequency of x-rays are given below. NOTE: the potential for excessive x-rays given the multiemployer nature of construction and other possible construction exposures like asbestos for which OSHA may require employers to provide x-rays.
4. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) to look for evidence of respiratory impairment. Should include FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FVC (forced vital capacity), and DLCO (diffusion capacity of the lungs) - annually. All PFT should use equipment and follow recommendations issued by the ATS (American Thoracic Society) and be administered by a technician who has successfully completed NIOSH-certified training.
5. A baseline PPD skin test for tuberculosis because people who have silicosis have increased susceptibility. Repeat annually if there is x-ray evidence of silicosis (1/0 or greater profusion category using the ILO classification) or 25 years or longer exposure.

Frequency of Chest X-rays for Silicosis
Every 3-5 years with normal x-ray, low exposure, and less than 20 years exposure. Every 1-3 years with normal x-ray, high exposure, or greater than 20 years exposure. Annually with x-ray evidence of silicosis (ILO 1/0 or greater or ILO results A, B, or C large opacities), massive exposure, or positive PPD test. See NOTE in item 3.

Reporting Guidelines
Physicians, radiologists, pathologists and other health care professionals should report cases of silicosis to be the health department in their state so that it can be determined whether silica exposures are being controlled at the workplaces where the patient has been employed. Such reporting is mandatory in many states, including New Jersey. (In New Jersey, call 800-772-0062 to report cases or for reporting forms.)

If the state has no occupational health program, cases of concern should be discussed with NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) or the local OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) office. Information on how to contact NIOSH and OSHA is given at the end of this bulletin.

The following elements define a case of silicosis for reporting purposes:

A physician’s provisional or working diagnosis of silicosis, or chest x-ray or other imaging technique interpreted as consistent with silicosis, or pathologic findings consistent with silicosis.

Because silicosis is sometimes confused with sarcoidosis, asbestosis, coal miner’s pneumoconiosis, or other pneumoconiosis it is important that all chest x-rays be reviewed by a B-reader.

Medical Management of Silicosis

There is no known medical treatment to reverse silicosis, therefore prevention is critically important. Removal from exposure may decrease the rate of disease progression. Corticosteroids are not useful to reduce the progression of the disease. Appropriate treatment for heart failure and tuberculosis should be begun if these complications exist. All individuals should be strongly advised to stop smoking and offered smoking cessation information and support. Regular follow up exams to access progression and possibly to screen for lung cancer should be scheduled. Individuals who develop silicosis should be given the option of transfer to silica-free jobs. In order for this to be a realistic alternative, the individual should be able to maintain the same rate of pay and benefits without loss of seniority.

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