Silica, or quartz, is a mineral found in many construction materials like concrete, brick, and stone. Inhaling silica dust can cause silicosis, a serious and incurable lung disease where scar tissue forms in the lungs and reduces oxygen intake. Prolonged or high levels of silica exposure can lead to shortness of breath, lung failure, and death. Many common construction tasks like drilling, cutting, grinding, and demolition can produce silica dust, putting workers at risk. Proper dust controls like using water and ventilation are needed, and respirators may be required if exposure limits could otherwise be exceeded.

1. It’s NOT just dust,
It’s Silica!
The Health Hazards of Silica in
Construction Work

2. What is Silica?
Silica is Quartz
Quartz (silica) is found naturally
in almost all rock, sand, and
soil.
It is also found in concrete
products and bricks.
It is also found in sandblasting
(abrasive blasting) grit and is
called “silica sand”.
4

3. Silica Content of Minerals
 Limestone 1 - 20 %
 Granite 20 - 70 %
 Sandstone 50 - 100 %
 Shale 5 - 20 %
 Slate 15 - 40 %
 Coal 0 - 10 %

4. Silica Health Hazards
Inhaled silica dust scars the lungs
A lung disease called “silicosis” is
caused by breathing of dust
containing silica.
The dust causes “fibrosis” or scar
tissue formation in the lungs.
This reduces the lung’s ability to
extract oxygen from the air.
There is no cure.
5

5. Silica Health Hazards
What are the symptoms of silicosis?
Early stages go unnoticed.
Continued exposure results in
shortness of breath during
exercise.
Prolonged high exposure can
lead to extreme shortness of
breath, chest pain, respiratory
failure, and death.
6

6. Silica Health Hazards
Other Health Effects
 Susceptibility to other lung
diseases and infections such as
tuberculosis.
 Acute silicosis may develop after
very short periods of high
exposure.
 Chronic silicosis develops after
many years of lower levels of
exposure.
7

7. Types of Silicosis:
 Simple chronic silicosis -- results from long-term
exposure (more than 20 years) to low amounts of
silica dust. This disease may cause people to have
trouble breathing.
 Accelerated silicosis -- occurs after exposure to larger
amounts of silica over a shorter period of time (5 - 15
years).
 Acute silicosis -- results from short-term exposure to
very large amounts of silica. The lungs become very
inflamed and can fill with fluid, causing severe
shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels.

8. Silica Exposure Limits
Is there a safe limit for silica?
PEL is determined by
using equation
PEL (respirable fraction) = 10 ÷
[% quartz + (% cristobalite × 2) +
(% tridymite × 2) + 2]
The safest amount of
silica in the air is zero.
Respirable dust is that fine
dust that is inhaled deep into
the lungs where it causes its
damage
The legal limit is called a
“permissible exposure
limit” or “PEL”.
Rule-of–thumb: if dust
containing silica is visible in
the air, it’s almost always
over the permissible limit.
8

9. Silica Exposure in Construction
Silica is found in many construction jobs
• Rock drilling
• Concrete & masonry building construction
• Earthwork and rock crushing
• Masonry or concrete building demolition
• Road construction and repair
• Abrasive blasting (sand blasting)
9

10. Silica Exposure – Rock Drilling
Rock drilling without
water produces large
amounts of dust.
Your actual exposure will
depend on the wind, where
you stand and if you use
water to control the dust.
11
Drilling without water
Drilling with water

11. Silica Exposure in Construction
Concrete Work
Generates moderate to
heavy amounts of dust Generates heavy
amounts of dust
Jack-hammering Power sanding
12

12. Silica Exposure –Concrete Highway work
Drilling concrete pavement dry
Generates moderate amounts of dust
13

13. Silica Exposure – concrete cutting
without water
Generates large amounts of dust
14

14. Silica Exposure – brick and cinder
block cutting
Generates moderate to heavy amounts of dust without water.
15
Without water
With water

15. Silica Exposure - Tuckpointing
Generates heavy amounts of dust without water
16

16. Silica Exposure – cutting
concrete siding with power saws
On some new construction, a
lightweight concrete siding
(hardiplank) is being used.
Cutting this siding with a
power saw without water or
ventilation can result in
silica overexposure.
17

17.  When dust is controlled, exposures are
lower.
 When dust is uncontrolled, exposures are
high.
 Many exposures are for short time periods,
but at very high concentrations.
 Short, high exposure can still exceed
permissible limits and cause lung damage.
The Risk of Silica Exposure
19

18. Silica dust exposure can be controlled by
use of water or exhaust ventilation
Using water to cut concrete
and bricks
Concrete sander with
exhaust ventilation
20

19. Silica Exposure Control
Avoid dry sweeping and use of compressed air
on concrete
Both these activities can stir up large amounts of dust.
Use a vacuum with high efficiency filters when possible.
22

20. Controlling Silica Exposures

21. Silica and Use of Respirators
Respirators must be used if silica dust can’t be
controlled with water or ventilation
Air-purifying respirator
with dust cartridge
Supplied air respirator
or
either
24

22. Respirators must fit properly
to prevent leaks around the
edges.
Fit-testing must be done
before first wearing a
respirator.
Beards are not allowed when
wearing a respirator.
Respirators Must Fit Properly
28

23. Employees using respirators must be trained
Training is required by
DOSH for anyone who
wears a respirator.
If you don’t know how to
use a respirator properly,
you may think your
respirator is providing
protection when it is not.
27