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What Are The Consequences Of Inhaling Silica?

Posted on Wed, 18 Feb 2015

Question: I have a question in regards to pulmonology. I recently worked on a project involving polymer sanded grout that contains silica (40-70%). Unfortunately I inhaled a substantial amount without realizing the contents of grout and the effects of silica until further research after the project. This wasn't an ordinary project. I'm a photographer and this was a photo shoot at a studio. We used it as powder and threw it in the air to capture the dust clouds in the photos. When we purchased this, it didn't even cross our minds how dangerous it was. The shoot lasted 2 hours and we stayed to clean up for an hour afterwards. It was 75 pounds of sanded grout and 100 pounds of mortar in a 2100 sq/ft room with a little fan blowing and little ventilation. The dust got on everything. We had about 3-4 hours of exposure to this with no masks. My ignorance has put a huge scare on me. I want to know if the amount of silica I was exposed to has a long term effect on me like silicosis or lung cancer.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need to know few more things.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

Thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your situation and problem.

I need to know few more things about you.
1. Do you smoke?
2. Do you have any symptoms at present? Like coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath etc
3. Are you suffering from any lung disease?

Silica exposure can lead to complications as follow.
1. Acute complications like acute silicosis, acute bronchitis etc.
2. Chronic complications like chronic silicosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, fibrosis etc.
And chances of all these complications are more if you are smoker or having underlying lung disease.

If you are asymptomatic at present then no need to worry much for silica exposure you had. And if you are non smoker and not having any underlying lung disease then no need to worry for lung cancer or silicosis.

But better to consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Chest x ray
2. PFT (pulmonary function test ) to rule out sillica induced damage.

If both are negative then no need to worry for chronic, long term complications of silica exposure like silicosis and lung cancer.

So let me know answers of above asked questions, So that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (26 minutes later)

I am a non-smoker and have no underlying lung disease. I've experienced some chest pain, little shortness of breath (may be psychological) and minimal coughing. I had my heart checked (ECG & EKG) out at the ER and lungs listened to as well and everything came back normal. I was exposed only a week ago.

I will take your advice in performing these tests with a pulmonologist. Is it possible to find out if I have silica induced damage so soon or would I have to wait a while?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Consult pulmonologist.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

Thanks for your follow up question.

You should consult pulmonologist and get done chest X ray and PFT to rule out acute complications like acute bronchitis and acute silicosis.
And chronic complications like chronic silicosis and lung cancer seen after 3-5 years. And they are seen mostly with chronic, sustained exposure. And chances are high if person is smoker or having underlying lung disease.

Since both these factors are absent in your case, no need to worry for chronic complications.
So at present pulmonologist consultation is needed to rule out acute complications.
And no need to worry for chronic complications.

Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari