Silicosis; acute

Alternative names:

silicoproteinosis

Definition:

A respiratory disease caused from inhalation of very high concentrations of silica without adequate protection

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Acute silicosis is caused by intense exposure to silica over approximately a 2 year period, but it can also result from an exposure as short as 6 months. The disease occurs mainly in people who work in sandblasting and in the manufacturing of abrasive soaps. The incidence is 1 out of 100,000 people. However, the incidence of silicosis is decreasing due to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requlations requiring the use of protective equipment.