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Metal/nonmetal mining respirable silica dust

Respirable silica-containing dust generated during metal and nonmetal mining and mineral-processing operations.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

silicosislung cancerrespiratory diseasedisabling lung disease

Evidence

NIOSH states that respirable silica dust is a serious health threat in metal and nonmetal mining, can cause disabling or fatal silicosis, and reports historical overexposures across sand and gravel, stone, nonmetal, and metal mining operations.

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page 1 · Introduction · 1
Respirable silica dust exposure has long been known to be a serious health threat ... Overexposure to respirable silica dust can lead to the development of silicosis—a lung disease that can be disabling and fatal in its most severe form.

NIOSH lists phthalic anhydride exposure routes as inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact, and reports respiratory irritation, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, dermatitis, and conjunctivitis among symptoms.

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Exposure Routes; Symptoms · 1
Exposure Routes inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact. Symptoms irritation eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; conjunctivitis; nasal ulcer bleeding; bronchitis, bronchial asthma; dermatitis.

HSE states that handling dusty cargoes can create large quantities of dust, that grain and soya dust can cause occupational asthma, and that other dusts may cause COPD.

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Health risks · 2
Handling these cargoes can create large quantities of dust ... Some of these dusts (including grain and soya) can be a cause of occupational asthma. Other dust may cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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