Small Mine Safety Newsletter Volume 7 Highlights Dangers of Silica Many minerals in the earth's crust contain silica. Coal, sandstone, shale, and limestone can all contain various amounts of silica. Any type of grinding or milling of these products can disperse silica dust into the air. Silicosis is the most common disease from excessive exposure to silica dust.
Silicosis is a scarring, fibrotic lung disease that affects a person's ability to breathe.
Several hundred people in the U.S. die from silicosis every year. There is no cure for silicosis, but it is preventable. Because you cannot see dust does not mean it is not present. Dust particles that affect the lungs are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. Some dust particles are so light that they float in the air and take long periods to settle to the ground.