What are silica hazards?

Crystalline Silica: Health Risks Silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissue, causing inflammation and scarring and reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. This condition is called silicosis. Silicosis results in permanent lung damage and is a progressive, debilitating, and sometimes fatal disease.

Is silica a hazardous substance?

Crystalline silica (quartz) is not known to be an environmental hazard. Crystalline silica (quartz) is incompatible with hydrofluoric acid, fluorine, chlorine trifluoride or oxygen difluoride. This material is considered hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

What is the OSHA action level for silica?

25 micrograms per cubic meter
What is the action level for respirable crystalline silica? The action level for respirable crystalline silica is 25 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/M3) of air.

Is silica a physical hazard?

Silica, often referred to as quartz, is a very common mineral. This respirable silica dust causes lung disease and lung cancer. It only takes a very small amount of airborne silica dust to create a health hazard.

What is worse silica or asbestos?

The Asbestos Illness Team at Hugh James in Cardiff, Wales, have investigated crystalline silica exposure, and when asked whether the substance is as dangerous as asbestos, they answered no. Crystalline silica is harmful but will only impact certain individuals with very specific job roles and exposure levels.

Where do you find silica?

An abundant natural material, crystalline silica is found in stone, soil, and sand. It is also found in concrete, brick, mortar, and other construction materials. Crystalline silica comes in several forms, with quartz being the most common.

Is silica safe to inhale?

Breathing in these very small (respirable) crystalline silica particles can cause irreversible scarring in the lungs, trouble breathing, permanent disability, and death. Crystalline silica dust can also cause lung cancer, kidney damage, and autoimmune disease.

What is the new silica standard?

The new regulations limit the PEL of airborne carcinogens to “50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (μg/m3), averaged over an 8-hour day.”4 Anything above 25 micrograms is what is known as the “action level.” This is the level where work areas need to be assessed for potential health …

Is silica in all concrete?

What construction materials contain silica? Many common construction materials contain silica including, for example, asphalt, brick, cement, concrete, drywall, grout, mortar, stone, sand, and tile.

Is silica the next asbestos?

So is crystalline silica the next asbestos? The short answer is no. Although hazardous, and very serious for those affected, it is only going to impact on certain individuals who have worked in very specific job roles.

What are the hazards of silica dust?

The Hazards Of Silica Dust. Silica is present in both work and non-work environments, and exposure to crystalline silica dust has long been known to cause a disease called silicosis. When you inhale crystalline silica the lung tissue reacts by developing fibrous tissue around trapped silica particles. This condition of the lung is called silicosis.

What is the permissible amount of silica in the workplace?

Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 μg/m 3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA. General.

What are the health effects of respirable crystalline silica?

Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica is related to the development of autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular impairment.

What is crystalline silica dust?

The dust created by cutting, grinding, drilling or otherwise disturbing these materials can contain crystalline silica particles. These dust particles are very small.