How much silica dust is toxic?

Because silicosis is caused by cumulative or repeated exposure to respirable crystalline silica, it makes sense that we would want to limit exposure as much as possible! OSHA has set the Personal Exposure Limit (PEL) at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8 hour shift.

How much exposure does it take to get silicosis?

It may take 20 or more years of exposure before a chest radiogram is positive for silicosis. Usually there is little or no respiratory impairment associated with the early stages of simple silicosis. The silica content of the dust to which workers developing simple silicosis are exposed is often less than 30%.

What happens if you inhale too much silica dust?

Silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissue causing inflammation and scarring. The particles also reduce 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 small amounts of silica dust harmful?

Breathing in very small ("respirable") crystalline silica particles, causes multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.

How long do you have to be exposed to silica to get silicosis?

Silicosis usually develops after being exposed to silica for 10-20 years, although it can sometimes develop after 5-10 years of exposure. Occasionally, it can occur after only a few months of very heavy exposure.

The Dangers of Silica Dust

How do I know if I've been exposed to too much silica dust?

Symptoms of silicosis usually appear after many years of exposure. In early stages, symptoms are mild and include cough, sputum and progressive shortness of breath. As the scarring continues to worsen, the first real signs of a problem may be an abnormal chest X-ray and a slowly developing cough.

Can your lungs get rid of silica dust?

Your body can get rid of some dust you breathe in. But if you work in a job where you are exposed to high levels of dust for a long time, or work with products containing a high amount of silica, then your lungs become overwhelmed. As a result, your lungs can't get rid of all the dust.

Does everyone exposed to silica get silicosis?

Not everyone who works with silica dust develops silicosis. The chances of getting silicosis will depend on many factors, including how much silica dust you come into contact with, and for how long you were exposed to it.

Does silica stay in your lungs?

As these particles damage the lungs, scar tissue forms and limits oxygen absorption. Even after exposure to silica dust ceases, the particles remain in the lungs and continue causing damage.

Can silica dust be absorbed through the skin?

studies show that very little silica is absorbed into the body. silica compounds through the skin were identified. However, it is expected that very little silica would be absorbed through the skin. Silica compounds are not metabolized.

Does N95 protect against silica dust?

The following describes the NIOSH policy for respiratory protection against airborne exposures to crystalline silica. NIOSH recommends the use of half-facepiece particulate respirators with N95 or better filters for airborne exposures to crystalline silica at concentrations less than or equal to 0.5 mg/m3.

Can you survive silicosis?

Silicosis IS NOT CURABLE, but it IS PREVENTABLE—to live a long and healthy life, learn the facts and know how to protect yourself and your family.

How long does silica dust stay in the air?

When silica dust particles are less than 10 μm, they will stay airborne for up to several hours until gravity and electrostatic forces help them settle onto surfaces. Of greater importance, at this size, they can easily enter the lungs, where they are even more toxic than coal dust.

What to do after breathing in dust?

When this happens drinking a cool glass of water will help to flush your throat. Sometimes a cough drop will help the throat to recover faster. If breathing in a lot of dust around your home is a concern for you why not hire a professional cleaning company to clean your home and let them handle the dust.”

How do you remove silica dust from a house?

Vacuum removal is the most effective method of controlling silica dust created by power tools. While our vacuums equipped with HEPA filters remove 99.99% of the dust, CS Unitec's standard vacuums are 99.93% efficient.

Do masks prevent silicosis?

Cloth masks or basic nuisance-grade dust mask will not offer enough protection against silica. The best options are N95/KN95 masks, or respirators with P95 or P100 filters. This is also the level of protection businesses are required by OSHA to provide to employees if silica dust is present.

What are the signs of silica in the lungs?

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling very tiny crystalline particles of silicon dioxide, or silica. If you have it, you'll have symptoms of coughing, inflammation (swelling) and fibrosis (scarring). Those three symptoms identify a group of diseases called pneumoconioses.

Is silica dust worse than asbestos?

Silica is the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos. Heavy and prolonged exposure to RCS can cause lung cancer and other serious respiratory diseases. HSE commissioned estimates it was responsible for the death of over 500 construction workers in 2005.

Does a HEPA filter remove silica dust?

A true HEPA filter can trap 99.97% of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns (0.001 mm, or about 0.000039 in.), making it perfect for silica dust removal.

What is the best protection from silica dust?

Use vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, or use wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping. Use abrasives containing less than 1% crystalline silica during abrasive blasting to prevent quartz dust from being released in the air.

What PPE is needed for silica dust?

Use personal protective equipment, such as a respirator and coveralls that keeps the dust off the clothes you wear home. Respirators may still be required if the above controls don't adequately reduce exposure levels.

When can silica be hazardous to me?

Sand and quartz are common examples of crystalline silica. When is silica a hazard for construction workers? Materials that contain crystalline silica are not hazardous unless they are disturbed, generating small-sized particles that can get in your lungs (“respirable crystalline silica”).

How toxic are silica packets?

Silica gel is non-toxic, meaning that it is not poisonous if eaten. The package says "DO NOT EAT" because: It is not food, It could be a choking hazard.

Can you touch silica packets?

There are actually a lot of uses for them around the house. A quick note about that safety warning you see all the time: Clear silica gel pellets are nontoxic and fairly safe to handle.