Silica dust exposure in industries like construction and mining could become as harmful as asbestos if stricter regulations are not implemented.
Fred Schwaller reports for Deutsche Welle.
In short:
- Inhaling silica dust from materials such as stone and cement can cause silicosis, a fatal lung disease, affecting many workers worldwide.
- New research suggests reducing exposure limits from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3 could save 13,000 lives by lowering silicosis risk.
- The issue is particularly severe in developing countries, where safety measures are lacking, leaving workers at high risk.
Key quote:
"Our research supports the reduction of exposure to silica dust from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3 over a working day."
— Patrick Howlett, study author, Imperial College London
Why this matters:
Silicosis, like asbestos exposure, can have devastating health impacts if not controlled. Lowering silica dust limits can protect workers, especially in developing countries where regulations are insufficient.
