Lungs at Work

Silicosis

If you are a healthcare professional and have a patient with suspected silicosis, please click here.

 

What is silicosis?

Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by breathing in dust containing silica. This causes inflammation (swelling) in your lungs, which can lead to lung scarring over time. This makes your lungs become hardened and stiff (fibrosis). Lung tissue that is hardened in this way does not function properly, and it can become more difficult to breathe.

 

What causes silicosis?

Silicosis is caused by breathing in dust which contains silica such as stone dust, sand or silica flour. Silica dust is created when you cut, sand, drill, polish or grind stones containing silica. 

You can get silicosis if you breathed in high levels of silica dust over months, or if you have breathed in smaller amounts of silica dust over years. You can develop silicosis even if you have not worked with silica for many years.

 

What are the main symptoms?

People with silicosis don’t usually have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. You might even notice symptoms only after you have stopped working with silica dust.

The main symptoms of silicosis are:

  • cough
  • chest tightness
  • breathlessness
  • tiredness and weakness

Silicosis can also cause diseases which can give you other symptoms such as:

  • hair loss
  • joint pains
  • dry eyes and mouth
  • night sweats

Having a chronic disease like silicosis can also cause mental health problems including difficulty sleeping and low mood. 

 

How is silicosis diagnosed?

Silicosis is diagnosed on a chest x-ray or a CT scan.  A CT scan gives a more detailed picture of the lungs and is done in a hospital. 

At your hospital appointments we will ask you what jobs you have done, symptoms you might have, and whether you smoke.

We will do breathing, blood and urine tests. We might also arrange other tests.

 

How is silicosis treated?

Unfortunately there is no cure for silicosis because the lung damage cannot be reversed. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

These might include:

  • Inhalers to open up your airways.
  • Medications to treat cough.
  • Anti-fibrotic medication which are anti-scarring tablets used to treat other lung diseases and may help some people with progressive silicosis.
  • Oxygen therapy if you have low blood oxygen levels. 
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation classes or exercise.

We may discuss referring you to our local lung transplant service. A lung transplant is a major operation and can only be considered if you are otherwise in good health and are not smoking. 

We regularly speak to specialists across the world to talk about new treatment options.

 

How can I help myself?

For most people with silicosis, the most important thing is to stop being exposed to silica dust. This might mean changing your job or workplace. We know this is not always an easy decision. Wearing a face mask is often not enough to protect you from silica dust exposure. 

You should also:

  • Stop smoking cigarettes and shisha – any smoking will make silicosis worse
  • Keep active – aim to walk 10,000 steps a day
  • Look after your mental health – speak with friends and family you trust, and let your doctor know if you would like to speak to a counsellor
  • Have regular vaccinations for flu/COVID/pneumonia if your doctor tells you to
  • Go to all your hospital appointments – silicosis can develop slowly or quickly, and it is important for us to look for any changes. Bring a friend or family member with you to help you remember what has been discussed. 

 

What support is there for me?

If you have silicosis you can get different types of financial and other support.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 

You can apply for a Government benefit called Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or IIDB.

This is a sum of money paid weekly to people with silicosis and other industrial diseases.

You do not need to tell your workplace if you apply for this benefit.

If you have always been self-employed, you will not be able to get this this benefit.

To apply for this benefit you can download a form here: BI100PD Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for a prescribed industrial disease (publishing.service.gov.uk) If you are based in London, you can also phone LASAG, a charity which helps people with silicosis to apply for benefits (Tel: 0808 278 2515). If you are outside London, please click here to find contact details for other charities.

Civil compensation 

You may also be able to make a civil claim for compensation against your employer’s insurance company. It does not matter if you have worked for more than one company. It does not matter if your company has closed. 

If you want to find out more then you should speak to a lawyer who has experience working with industrial diseases. We can give you names of companies who may be helpful. Making a legal claim usually takes more than a year. 

This should be done on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. 

Mental health support

Living with a long-term disease like silicosis can affect your mental health. So it is really important that you have the right people around you to support you on this journey. 

We are here to help you take things step by step, to understand what is happening and how you might be feeling, and to connect you to support. We will also ask about your mental health during your hospital appointments. If you want to speak to a counsellor, let your doctor know.

You can also refer yourself for “talking therapies”. To do this type the name of your GP surgery at this website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression/enter-gp

 

Resources

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