7/9/2023 0 Comments Silica poisoningHigh exposures to crystalline silica dust can cause acute human health effects such as shortness of breath, watery eyes and nose, throat irritation, and feeling tired.Įxposure to very high concentrations of silica may result in death as it causes asphyxiation by severely restricting oxygen flow to vital organs. Products with high concentrations of cristobalite can be extremely dangerous due to their acute toxicity since they can easily penetrate bodily tissues and organs See Related: Are Brown Paper Bags Compostable? What are some possible health hazards of using products that have crystalline silica? Silicosis is a progressive and irreversible lung disease that causes scarring in the lungs and makes it difficult for oxygen to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Severe cases can lead to complications such as pneumonia Some people with light cases may not have any symptoms at all. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent to which the lungs are affected. Some symptoms of silicosis include shortness of breath, fever, chills, cough, chest pain, or tightness See Related: Best Solar Tiki Torches What are some symptoms of silicosis? Other health effects include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver damage, skin irritation, chronic bronchitis, peptic ulcers, anemia, and kidney damage. Exposure to silica has been linked with the development of cancers such as stomach cancer and other solid tumors. Other health effects are can cause lung cancer because of its high radioactive properties. Inhalation of crystalline silica dust can cause allergic sensitization, which increases the effect of silica dust on the respiratory system. This may cause coughing spells or shortness of breath Silica can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs of those that are exposed to it. ![]() However, silicosis is a separate disease from asbestosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis. Silicosis starts with simple inflammation and progresses to scarring in the lungs, called pulmonary fibrosis. It is similar to other types of pneumoconiosis that are also caused by the inhalation of dust, like coal workers’ pneumoconiosis or black lung disease. It can cause silicosis, which is a lung disease caused by breathing in crystalline silica dust. See Related: Best Compostable Mailers How does respirable crystalline silica affect humans? Emissions from equipment used in mining are creating greenhouse gases also. Silica exposure also is quite prone to the workers. These tunnels degrade the soil and environment around them, as well as create negative effects on local wildlife.Īlso during this process sometimes they forget to eliminate plastic waste. Mining tunnels have to be constructed in the process. See Related: Most Eco-Friendly Baseboard Heaters Are there any potentially hidden environmental costs in mining silica? Mining and harvesting of silica are strictly regulated and require environmental credentials, inappropriate harvesting of these crystals is a very poor environmental alternative that causes pollution. The silica needs to become soluble in water for it to be useful. In order to be used in many industries, it has to undergo a purifying process. Although Silica is also extracted from sand and quarries through mining tunnels. See Related: Most Ethical Gemstones: Is Mining Ethically Possible? How is silica mined or harvested? ![]() The smaller the fragments produced, the more harmful it becomes to the environment and living things around them. When these crystals shatter, they actually fragment into small dust particles, which can be breathed in easily by humans or animals. This crystalline silica is extremely sharp and fragile. Silica occurs in nature in the form of crystalline silica also known as quartz. See Related: Best Conservation Books to Read What is crystalline silica? ![]() Many types of dishes such as glasses and cups (pyrex, Corelle).See Related: Best Products to Help Climate Change What are the uses of silica? It is used as an ingredient in many industries. And sometimes it is also found in the human body, some people have less, some have a more but same health benefit. Silica is a chemical compound that comes in various forms like sand, soil, quartz, and cristobalite (crystalline silica form of SiO2).
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