Silica Dust Exposure Helpline
Illnesses & complications linked to exposure to silica dust caused by manufacturing of engineered stone countertops and the cutting and fabricating of stone, cement, asphalt & more.
You may qualify for financial compensation. Act Now!
What is Silica?
Crystalline silica, a well-established human carcinogen, is prevalent in materials such as sand, stone, soil, and concrete. Workers face exposure during various activities like cutting, sawing, and crushing concrete, brick, or rock, leading to inhalation of particles that can trigger serious lung conditions, including silicosis and lung cancer. Silicosis results in lung scarring, impacting respiratory function. A 2015 NIOSH study reported a decrease in silicosis deaths over the last decade, but approximately 100 individuals still succumb to this condition each year.
Around 2.3 million individuals face potential exposure to respirable crystalline silica, with a significant portion of this group comprising 2 million construction workers and 300,000 employees engaged in foundries, brick manufacturing, and hydraulic fracturing sites, as highlighted by OSHA.
In 2018, the stone fabrication industry in the United States comprised nearly 9,000 establishments with a workforce of 96,000 employees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics quarterly census of employment and wages, as noted in a CDC blog. Considering that many of these workers may not have undergone medical examinations, it is likely that additional cases of silicosis remain unidentified in the country.
Where is Silica found?
Industries and trades engaged in the production or engineering of stone products encompass a wide spectrum, including foundries, sandblasting, construction, masonry, glass manufacturing, concrete and ceramic production, coal and hard rock mining, tunneling, and engineered stone manufacturing. The United States boasts a workforce of well over 2 million individuals involved in stone-related industries.
Materials and products containing silica are abundant and include stone products, composite dental fillings, manufactured timber, bricks, cement, asphalt, drywall, some plasterboards, grout, mortar, tiles, and certain plastic materials.
Activities releasing silica dust into the air include: fabrication, installation, maintenance, and removal of engineered stone countertops; excavation, earth-moving, and drilling plant operations; clay and stone processing machine operations; paving and surfacing; mining, quarrying, and mineral ore treating processes; road construction and tunneling; construction laboring and demolition; brick, concrete, or stone cutting (especially using dry methods); abrasive blasting; foundry casting; angle grinding, jackhammering, and chiseling of concrete or masonry; hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of gas and oil wells; pottery; crushing, loading, hauling, and dumping of rock or muck; and cleanup activities like sweeping or pressurized air blowing of dust.
Illnesses and Complications from Silica
Illnesses and complications associated with silica dust exposure include:
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Silicosis - A lung ailment stemming from the inhalation of minuscule silica particles, a prevalent mineral present in various rock and soil compositions. Prolonged exposure to these silica particles creates lasting damage to the lungs.
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Pulmonary Fibrosis - A respiratory condition characterized by damage and scarring of lung tissue. The resultant thickening and stiffening of the tissue makes it challenging for the lungs to work correctly.
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - A chronic inflammatory lung disease causing limited and obstructed airflow.
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Chronic Bronchitis - An inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs.
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Kidney Disease - A progressive decline in kidney function. Advanced stages lead to the accumulation of dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes in the body.
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Emphysema - A lung condition causing breathlessness & damaging air sacs (alveoli), eventually reducing lung surface area and oxygen reaching the bloodstream.
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Lung Cancer - Cancer originating in the lungs, the two spongy organs in your chest responsible for inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.
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Kidney Damage - Any complication making kidney function less effective. The kidneys function is to filter waste products from the blood.
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Lung infections like Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe lung illness caused by specific bacterias.
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Scleroderma - Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a rare group of diseases that result in skin hardening and tightening, with potential complications in blood vessels, internal organs, and the digestive tract.
About the Lawsuit
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a listed illness after exposure to Silica, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Fill out the form above to find out.
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