Posted december 8 2015 by jim orr.
Breathing granite dust.
Respirable crystalline silica is a chemical compound present in stone dust soil granite and many other minerals.
Explore our stone worker ppe.
Despite its many benefits to the construction industry it comes with a number of health risks.
I d reckon that the damage from breathing granite dust for a few days pales in comparison to not exercising one s lungs but i haven t looked into what these rather inert seeming constituents cause.
Silicosis is a lung condition that falls under the pneumoconiosis umbrella.
Stone dust is a by product of crushed rocks.
But graham said that silica from granite dust is not a likely human carcinogen.
Understanding the dangers of stone dust.
Of course we also usually breathe through our noses which have tin.
It covers the health effects of breathing silica dust recommends ways to protect workers and describes how osha and niosh can help employers effectively reduce silica dust exposures.
This occupational lung disease develops as a result of silica dust inhalation and most commonly affects miners construction workers and other employees who are regularly exposed to mineral ores and rock such as quartz.
Over a period of time these nodules will grow making breathing difficult.
But here s the rub.
Employers must ensure that workers are properly protected from exposure to silica.
As the fabricator cuts the granite stone slab a cloud of stone dust results spreading throughout your neighborhood and coating everything in its path.
His research has tracked the ravages of silicosis a deadly lung scarring disease caused by breathing granite dust.
As a multipurpose building material it provides compact results.
Healthy lungs constantly make mucus and we constantly clear our airways for precisely this sort of situation.
Can you get silicosis from one exposure.
Respirable crystalline silica rcs is found in stone dust and causes silicosis cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd.
Federal and state authorities have passed laws requiring workers who cut or grind materials such as concrete brick stone or granite to wear respirators or other devices designed to protect them from breathing in these materials.
Is exposure to airborne concrete stone brick or granite dust hazardous to my health.
Dust particles get trapped in the mucus and we cough it up and out.
Worker exposures to airborne silica dust including.
Graham said that while workers employed in the stone sheds have experienced higher than normal lung cancer rates the disease was likely due to.
From quartz in stone.
