In the UK, eight initial cases of silicosis caused by artificial stone used for kitchen worktops have been reported.
- Silicosis is a lung disease “caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust and is characterized by nodular pulmonary fibrosis.”
- In the UK, eight men, aged 27 and 56, were exposed to artificial stone dust, used for kitchen worktops, for 12.5 years.
- Among those patients who completed the operations “with inadequate safety measures,” one died and two were referred for evaluation for lung transplantation.
Over the past decade, silicosis caused by artificial stone, or quartz, which is made from crushed rocks bound together by resins and pigments, has emerged as a growing global problem, according to researchers at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom. As a reminder, this disease, namely the oldest form of occupational lung disease, is “caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust and is characterized by nodular pulmonary fibrosis”noted the MSD ManualIt has been known to cause disability and premature death in workers for several millennia.
Silicosis: Eight affected men were exposed to artificial stone dust for 12.5 years
According to British scientists, those most at risk typically work in industries that involve either cutting materials containing silica or using sand/clay for manufacturing. Outbreaks of silicosis have also been reported in other work environments, affecting adults working with slate pencils, denim jeans, dental supplies and jewellery/gemstones. In a recent study, published in the journal Thoraxthe team from Imperial College London looked at eight early British cases of silicosis caused by artificial stone.
The patients in question were all men aged between 27 and 56. According to the data, their average cumulative exposure to stone dust was 12.5 years, but ranged from 4 to 40 years. For four people, it was between 4 and 8 years. The latter had contact with artificial stone at work, as they carried out finishing work, including cutting and polishing worktops, “with inadequate security measures.” In patients with silicosis, the clinical features of silicosis were similar to those of sarcoidosis, which is characterized by pathologic clusters of inflammatory cells in many organs of the body. Among the patients with silicosis, one died and two were referred for evaluation for lung transplantation.
Factors increasing the risk of suffering from silicosis among workers
According to Dr. Calvert Holland, a hospital physician in Sheffield, England, who investigated the health of local cutlers in 1843, artificial stone worktops, by design, have a very high crystalline silica content to make them stronger and more durable. Dry processing with power tools without the use of water suppression, local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protective equipment exposes workers to very high levels of airborne silica dust.
“The second relevant factor noted by the doctor is the vulnerability of the workforce affected by the outbreaks. Many of those at risk of silicosis from engineered stone in the UK, Australia and the US are migrant workers whose first language is not English, who may have poor understanding of the health risks and limited access to healthcare. Here, the affected UK workers were not subject to annual health surveillance.”the authors wrote in a press release.
Another common factor in many silicosis epidemics is the limited socio-economic options available to affected workers, often in precarious employment conditions, “which leaves some individuals with little choice but to continue to expose themselves to harmful exposure against medical advice.”
In the research findings, the British researchers warn that the number of cases in the UK is likely to increase and that urgent action is needed to identify cases and enforce regulations.
