SILICOSIS

Submitted to Submitted by
Dr. A.B. GUPTA ABHISHEK SOTI
MONIKA SAINI 1
2 CONTENTS
1) Definition
2) Classification
3) How silica affects?
4) Sources
5) Types of silicosis
6) Silica Exposure limit
7) Symptoms
8) Controlling Silica exposure
9) Case study of Karauli district of rajasthan
definition
 Silicosis is a form of occupational
lung disease caused by inhalation of
Crystalline Silica dust, usually in the
form of quartz and less commonly , as
cristobalite and tridymite
 Silicosis is a fibrotic lung and is
marked by inflammation and scarring
in the disease form of nodular lesions
in the upper lobes of the lungs.

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4
 classification
Silicon Dioxide (Sio2)

Amorphous Crystalline
(non hazardous) (Hazardous)

Diatomaceous Opal Crystobalite Tridymite

Earth silica glass Quartz
(vitreous silica)

(fume silica, silica rich

Sand stone Granite
fiberglass , mineral wool)
(67% silica) (25-40% silica)
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 how silica affects…….
 When the silica particles of 0.5 to 5 microns
diameter are breathed into the lungs, they
get embedded into the alveolar sacs and
ducts and cause inflammation.

 The inflammation and scarring damage the

lung sacs, prevent gas exchange, and
normal breathing. Damage to the lung tissue
means that the capacity of the lungs to
supply oxygen to the blood is reduced.

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Contd….
 5-10 μm size silica particles
reach up to upper respiratory
tract causing Rhinitis and
laryngitis.
 3-5 μm size silica particles
reaches up to the mid
respiratory system and may
cause Tracheaitis, bronchitis
and bronchiolitis.
 1-3μm size silica particles
are deposited directly in the
alveoli causing Asthma,
COPD, and other interstitial
diseases including silicosis
(How Med, 2015).
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 sources
Construction
Abrasive blasting of structures,
buildings
Highway and tunnel construction
Excavation and earth moving
Masonry, concrete work,
demolition

Quarrying and related

minning operations
Crushing stone, sand and gravel
processing, monumental stone cutting
and abrasive blasting, slate work,
diatomite calcination
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Agriculture
Ploughing, harvesting,
use of machinery

Glass, including
fiberglass
Raw material processing
Refractory installation and repair
Raw materials processing

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 TYPES OF
SILICOSIS
 Simple chronic silicosis -- results from long-
term exposure (more than 20 years) to low
amounts of silica dust. This disease may
cause people to have trouble breathing.
 Accelerated silicosis -- occurs after exposure
to larger amounts of silica over a shorter
period of time (5 - 15 years).
 Acute silicosis -- results from short-term
exposure to very large amounts of silica. The
lungs become very inflamed and can fill with
fluid, causing severe shortness of breath and
low blood oxygen levels
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 SILICA EXPOSURE
LIMIT
The safest amount of silica in the air is zero

PEL is determined by using equation

PEL (respirable fraction) = 10 ÷ [% quartz + (% cristobalite × 2)

+ (% tridymite × 2) + 2]

Rule-of–thumb: if dust containing silica is visible in

the air, it’s almost always over the permissible limit

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 SYMPTOMS
 Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
 Cough, often persistent and sometimes severe
 Fatigue
 Tachypnea (rapid breathing) which is often labored,
 Loss of appetite and weight loss
 Chest pain
 Fever
 Gradual darkening of skin (blue skin)
 Gradual dark shallow rifts in nails eventually leading to
cracks as protein fibers within nail beds are destroyed.
 In advanced cases, the following may also occur:
 Cyanosis, pallor along upper parts of body (blue skin)
 Cor pulmonale (right ventricle heart disease) 12
SILICOSIS DEPENDS ON

 The amount and kind of dust inhaled.

 The percentage of free silica in the dust.
 The form of silica.
 The size & shape of silica particle.
 The duration of exposure.
 The individual’s natural body resistance.
 The presence or absence of complicating
factors (such as infection vectors).

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CONTROLLING SILICA EXPOSU

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 Respirators must be used if silica dust can’t be
controlled with water or ventilation

OR

Air-purifying respirator with

Supplied air respirator
dust cartridge
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Area of survey

Fig ure 5: Karauli district 16

 methodology
Sampling frame
Total 6 Villages Were Randomly Selected From 4 Regions
Of The District.
Selection criteria village population

 All the adults population of Mamchari 2094

the village Palanpur 1047
 Person having respiratory Binega 1026
symptoms/problems with a
Arampura 710
known history of mining
 Identify Controlled and Garhi ka gaon 632
affected population Chaube ki guwari 566
 Questionnaires were used to
gather occupational and
medical history. 17
 NULL HYPOTHESIS

 Ho = There is no significant effect of exposure to silica on

the respiratory health of people.
ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS
 Ha= There is significant effect of exposure of silica on the
respiratory health of people suspecting them of silicosis.

 DOF =(2-1)*(2-1) = 1
 The hypothesis is tested at 0.05% significance level
 Χ2 = ( Observed – Expected )2
Expected
 For 0.05% significance level and 1 DOF , p = 3.84
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 General prevalence of silicosis
Villages Total Non Village Overall Prevalence
affected affected Population
Cases cases
Arampura-Mahu 145 565 710 20.71

Chobe Ki Guwari 50 516 566 8.83

Garhi Ka Gaon 59 573 632 9.34

Palanpur 70 1877 1947 3.60

Binega 40 986 1026 3.89
Mamchari 444 1650 2094 21.20
Total 808 5967 6775 11.58
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 Observed value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases total

Arampura-Mahu 145 565 710

Binega 40 986 1026

total 185 1551 1736

Expected value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases

Arampura-Mahu 75.66 634.33

Binega 109.33 916.662

ϰ² value = 120.305>3.84 19
 Observed value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases total

Chobe ki guari 50 516 566

Binega 40 986 1026

total 90 1502 1592

Expected value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases

Chobe ki guari 32 534

binega 58 968

ϰ² value = 16.65>3.84 20
 Observed value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases total

Garhi ka gaon 59 573 632

Binega 40 986 1026

total 99 1559 1599

Expected value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases

Garhi ka gaon 39.13 616.190

binega 63.52 1000.33

ϰ² value = 22.022>3.84 21
 Observed value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases total

palanpur 70 1877 1947

binega 40 986 1026

total 110 2863 2973

Expected value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases

Palanpur 72.03 1874.96

binega 38 988.038

ϰ² value = 0.168<3.84
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 Observed value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases total

mamchari 444 1650 2094

binega 40 986 1026

total 484 2636 3120

Expected value
Villages Total affected Cases Non affected cases

mamchari 324.83 1769.2

binega 159.16 866.84

ϰ² value = 157.31>3.84 24
 Observed value
Affected Non affected Total population

smokers 245 346 591

Non smokers 66 151 217

total 311 497 808

Expected value
Affected Non affected

smokers 227.47 363.52

Non smokers 83.52 133.47

ϰ² value = 8.163 >3.84

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26
RESULTS
 As χ2 value for villages Arampura-Mahu, Chobe ki guari, Garhi ka
gaon and Mamchari are greater as compared to the values from
chi-square table at 5% significance level at 1 DOF, the hypothesis
is rejected for these 4 villages.
 Hence, the effect of exposure to silica is significant in these 4
villages on the respiratory health of people.
 χ2 value for village Palanpur is less than 3.84, hence hypothesis
is accepted for that village that means there is no significant effect
of exposure to silica on the respiratory health of people.
 Prevalence of silicosis is higher in Machmari and Arampura-Mahu
villages.
 Prevalence of silicosis among smokers is higher as compared to
non-smokers.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
 There is immediate need for starting an intervention programme to
provide treatment to the persons affected with silicosis.

 A comprehensive study involving all persons engaged in stone

mining should be carried out to determine prevalence of silicosis in
the area.

 The persons affected with silicosis need to be compensated as

provided under Workmen Compensation Act, 1923.

 All cases of silicosis should be notified to Directorate General of

Mines Safety, as provided under Mines Act, 1952.

 A detailed study on airborne dust levels and suitable dust control

measures should be carried to reduce dust exposure to persons
engaged in stone mining.
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 The mine owners and workers need to be educated and made aware of
health hazards of stone dust and preventive measures required to be
taken.

 A special drive needs to be launched for detection and treatment of

persons suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis in stone mines.

 All persons engaged in stone mines should undergo periodic medical

examination regularly.

 An effective rehabilitation programme should be undertaken for

persons suffering from silicosis.

 There is need to train local doctors in diagnosis of silicosis as large

number of cases are misdiagnosed as cases of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis.
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 GOVERNMENT
RESPONSE
•Rs 100,000 to each silicosis-affected person.
•Rs 300,000 to family of a person dies from silicosis.

PAYMENTS ARE MADE BY

RAJASTHAN ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD

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 references
 Ahemad, A. (2015). Are the sandstone miners’ abuses in India? INDIAN
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, 27(2), 1-4. Retrieved from
 file:///C:/Users/smmohammad/Downloads/1001-6345-2-PB.pdf

 Bhardwaj, V., Dr. (2017, March 15). Silicosis cases in Karauli [E-mail].
Secretary, Dang Vikas Sanstha, Karauli

 Chief Medical Officer, Karauli (2016), Exec. Order No. 132. Constitution of
Pneumoconiosis Medical Board (PMB)

 ILO (2011). Specific instructions for use of the complete classification. In

Guidelines for the use of the international classification of radiographs of
pneumoconiosis (pp. 3-9). Geneva: ILO. Retrieved from
 http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---
safework/documents/publication/wcms_168260.pdf

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THANKS………..

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