SILICOUS PULMONARY DISEASE: THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

This article has the professional consultation of Central Committee.BSCC. Doctor of medicine specializing in occupational diseases Nguyen Phuc Thai

Recently, the case of many workers contracting and dying from Silicosis in Nghe An province is a warning bell about the risk of disease in production facilities. Silicosis is caused by inhaling silica dust in the working environment, causing damage to the respiratory system and risk of death. Therefore, those who work in environments containing silica dust need to clearly understand the causes, symptoms, and prevention methods to avoid contracting this disease.

Silica dust is dust with a free silicon content of over 5%, the higher the silicon content, the greater the risk of suffering from silica pneumoconiosis. Dusts with high silicon content such as quartz, sand, granite, samor (heat-resistant additive), tripoli (glass and metal polishing material…)

Occupational silica pneumoconiosis is a progressive lung fibrosis caused by inhaling dust containing free silica during work. In Vietnam, occupational silica pneumoconiosis is 1/35 occupational diseases eligible for social insurance.

– Acute: This type of disease develops after a few weeks to several years of direct contact with silica dust. The disease progresses rapidly with the lungs becoming very inflamed and filled with fluid, causing severe difficulty breathing, causing low levels of oxygen in the blood.

– Chronic: This is the most common form of chronic silicosis, occurring after a long period of time (10 – 30 years) of direct exposure to silica dust (low concentration of silica). The patient shows no signs of the disease, although the infection can be detected through X-rays. The most characteristic manifestation of this disease is that silica dust causes swelling of the lungs and lymph nodes in the chest, making it more difficult for the patient to breathe. X-ray results also showed lesions less than 10mm in diameter in the upper lung.

– Progressive disease: The result of exposure to silica dust at high concentrations continuously for about 5 – 10 years. Accordingly, patients with pulmonary fibrosis also develop other symptoms more quickly than those with chronic disease. These patients are at increased risk of developing future complications such as progressive massive fibrosis.

The condition can become severe if the patient has other lung diseases such as fungal infections, tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections and lung cancer.

*Professions that are susceptible to silica pneumoconiosis:

• Drilling, damming, mining rock ores containing free silicon
• Metallurgy and casting work in contact with sand dust (Destroying casting molds, cleaning castings…)
• Cutting and grinding stones containing free silicon.
• Production and use of grinding wheels, polishing powders and other products containing free silicon.
• Processing carborundum, manufacturing glass, porcelain and other ceramics, refractory bricks.
• Clean or smooth with a sandblast.
• And other occupations and jobs that are exposed to dust containing free silicon.

* Clinical manifestations of Silicosis:

• Shortness of breath on exertion. Shortness of breath is mild at first, then gradually increases.
• Fatigue, weight loss, cough, phlegm, chest pain and possibly respiratory failure.
• Chest pain – common and often painful at the base of the lungs.
• Acute illness with difficulty breathing that begins suddenly, progresses rapidly, may have fever and the risk of death.

* To prevent Silicosis, it is necessary to apply the following measures:

• Technically: Avoid production in conditions where silica dust exists, replace materials that generate a lot of silica dust with materials that generate little silica dust, increase workplace humidity to reduce the possibility of dispersion of dust. Applying an automatic, closed production cycle, collecting dust as soon as it arises with an on-site suction system. Isolate dust generating areas from other production areas. Organize production time, reasonably… provide personal protective equipment to prevent silica dust from entering the respiratory tract for all workers.
• Regarding health: Periodically monitor the working environment, implement employee health management content right from the beginning – check job placement – periodically check health to detect occupational diseases for workers exposure to silica dust, Organizing treatment and periodic occupational medical examinations for workers suffering from silicosis…
• Regarding individual workers: Understand and grasp the risks of silicosis at work to promptly prevent adverse effects on their health and comply with safety regulations – always Wear personal protective equipment when working…

Come to Thai Nguyen International Hospital for early detection of silicosis:

Based on clinical signs, an occupational disease specialist will thoroughly examine and prescribe diagnostic tests to determine whether the customer has silica dust disease or not, and if so, to what extent. :

– Lung imaging diagnosis: Chest X-ray or lung CT will help doctors more clearly observe lung images, thereby assessing the extent of lung damage as well as determining whether or not there is disease.

– Measuring respiratory function.

– Sputum test to determine other related diseases (Pulmonary tuberculosis).

Thai Nguyen International Hospital – a reputable medical address providing services