Silicosis is a scarring disease of the lung caused by inhaling fine particles of crystalline silica dust. Silicosis can worsen over time, especially with continued or high levels of dust exposure. The disease typically takes 5–20 years after first exposure to appear. Dry cough and shortness of breath are early symptoms of disease. Chest imaging usually shows nodules or calcified lymph nodes. Lung function testing may be normal early in disease, but lungs may become restricted and oxygen levels abnormal as silicosis progresses. There is no proven treatment that reverses silicosis, but optimal lung health can be enhanced with good medical care and follow up.
Who gets silicosis?
People who work with or around products that contain and release crystalline silica are at risk of silicosis.
Some products that contain silica (also referred to as quartz) include natural stone such as sandstone, marble, and granite. Engineered (artificial) stone, a mixture of large amounts of quartz with resins and pigments, may release high concentrations of respirable silica when it is cut, grinded, or polished for use in countertops, tiles, and other applications.
Some industries where exposure to silica dust may occur include:
- Artificial/engineered or natural stone fabrication
- Mining (coal, metal/nonmetal, stone, sand, gravel, and other commodities)
- Concrete mixing and cutting
- Brick and stone cutting
- Sandblasting
- Foundry work
- Construction
- Fracking (natural gas extraction)
- Pottery making
Why is it important to recognize the exposure sources and early symptoms of silicosis?
Exposure to silica dust has been known for centuries to cause silicosis, yet many cases continue to occur in the United States and worldwide. Recent outbreaks in stone fabrication workers have brought renewed attention to the disease. Silicosis is not curable, but it is preventable. If workers are diagnosed with silicosis, they should be removed from exposure to minimize the risk for progression of fibrotic lung disease and the other diseases associated with silica exposure.
What other diseases are associated with silica exposure?
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/Emphysema
- Tuberculosis (TB) and other lung infections
- Lung cancer
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma)
What services does National Jewish Health offer to individuals who have been exposed to silica dust?
For workers:
- Screening for silica-related diseases
- Diagnosis of silica-related diseases by board-certified occupational lung specialists
- Treatment of the complications of silicosis
- Careful attention to protecting personal health information
- Medical guidance for removal from dust exposure
- Benefits counseling
What clinical screening and diagnostic services do we provide?
- Detailed exposure and medical history
- Physical exam
- Lung function testing
- Chest x-ray with B reading (a specialized interpretation for dust disease of the lung)
- QuantiFERON Tuberculosis (TB) blood testing
- Other diagnostic testing (such as high resolution chest CT scan, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, arterial blood gas testing, laboratory testing for autoimmune, kidney, and infectious diseases)
Conditions Treated & Health Information
- Silicosis
- Other diseases associated with silica exposure including:
Research
If you have been exposed to silica dust in your workplace and would like to contribute to our research on silica-related diseases, you may be eligible to enroll in our Silicosis Registry.
Related Programs or Services
Other available resources:
For workers:
If you have questions about silicosis, you can call the toll free or local number for the National Jewish Health Program on Silicosis and Its Prevention:
- Local: 303-270-2609, option 2
- Toll Free: 877-255-5864, option 2
- Para alcanzar el Programa de Silicosis, llame al 877-255-5864 y presione el numero dos
For medical providers:
If you are a medical provider for silica exposed patients and have questions or wish to make a referral to our Silicosis Clinic, please complete the secure REDCap survey linked here: REDCap
For employers:
Under the 2017 OSHA Silica Standard, employers are required to comply by:
Making medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who will be required to use a respirator for 30 or more days per year.
This surveillance must be performed by a Physician or other Licensed Health Care Provider (PLHCP) with a baseline medical examination happening 30 days after initial assignment and periodic examinations at least every 3 years
The baseline medical examination consists of:
- Medical and work history
- Physical examination
- Chest x-ray with B read
- Pulmonary function test (PFT)
- Tuberculosis testing
- Any other tests deemed appropriate by the PLHCP
At National Jewish Health, we offer employers:
Scientific Publications
- Hua JT, Cool CD, Fireman Klein E, et al. Silicosarcoidosis: Histologic and Clinical Features of an Occupational Granulomatous Disease. Am J Ind Med. 2025;68(6):491-507. doi:10.1002/ajim.23724
- Robinson R, Hua JT, Lee B, et al. One-year lung transplantation outcomes for engineered stone countertop workers with silicosis at a single center in Southern California, 2019 to 2023. 2025;9:100280. doi:10.1016/j.jhlto.2025.100280
- Zell-Baran LM, Hua JT, Rose CS. Silicosis in Western U.S. Metal and Nonmetal Miners, 2002-2023. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024;209(6):756-758. doi:10.1164/rccm.202310-1846LE
- Lowers H, Zell-Baran L, Arslan Z, Moore CM, Rose C. Particle Morphology and Elemental Analysis of Lung Tissue from Post-9/11 Military Personnel with Biopsy-Proven Lung Disease. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(1):91. doi:10.3390/ijerph21010091
- Hua JT, Rose CS, Redlich CA. Engineered Stone-Associated Silicosis-A Lethal Variant of an Ancient Disease. JAMA Intern Med. 2023;183(9):908-910. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.3260
- Hua JT, Cool CD, Green FHY. Pathology and Mineralogy of the Pneumoconioses. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2023;44(3):327-339. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1764406
- Cohen RA, Rose CS, Go LHT, et al. Pathology and Mineralogy Demonstrate Respirable Crystalline Silica Is a Major Cause of Severe Pneumoconiosis in U.S. Coal Miners. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2022;19(9):1469-1478. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.202109-1064OC
- Hua JT, Zell-Baran L, Go LHT, et al. Demographic, exposure and clinical characteristics in a multinational registry of engineered stone workers with silicosis. Occup Environ Med. 2022;79(9):586–593. doi:10.1136/oemed-2021-108190
- Rose C, Heinzerling A, Patel K, et al. Severe Silicosis in Engineered Stone Fabrication Workers - California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington, 2017-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(38):813-818. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6838a1
Resources
Clinical Trials
