Silicosis is a lung disease caused by overexposure to respirable crystalline silica. It is irreversible and can cause physical disability or death. Silica is the second most common mineral in Earth’s crust and is a major component of sand, stone, and mineral ores.
Overexposure to dust that contains particles of crystalline silica can cause scar tissue formation in the lungs. That diminishes the ability of the lungs to extract oxygen from the air we breathe. The fun or play on a sandy beach is not a risk of silicosis.
More than one million workers in the U.S. have been exposed to crystalline silica. Each year, more than 250 American workers die with silicosis. There is no cure for this disease, but it is 100% preventable if employers, workers and health professionals work together to reduce exposures.