{"id":353367,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:52","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/silicosis-risk-and-detection.html"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:25:00","slug":"silicosis-risk-and-detection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/silicosis-risk-and-detection.html","title":{"rendered":"Silica and Silicosis: Legal Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Silica and Silicosis: Legal Information<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Research highlights the serious health risks of silica exposure, which can lead to silicosis<\/span>, lung cancer<\/span>, and other respiratory diseases. Workers in industries like construction, mining, and manufacturing are especially vulnerable. Regulatory bodies like OSHA<\/span> and MSHA enforce safety standards<\/span> and protect workers from these hazards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Silica is a natural chemical in rock, soil, and dust. It\u2019s like asbestos<\/span>. You can\u2019t see or smell it. Silica exposure can cause severe health conditions. These include lung disease<\/span>, lung cancer<\/span>, and silicosis<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Silicosis<\/span> is a\u00a0severe lung disease<\/span>\u00a0characterized by the scarring and hardening of lung tissue<\/span>. You can develop silicosis<\/span> from breathing in crystalline silica. It mostly strikes people working in environments with high concentrations of\u00a0silica dust<\/a>.<\/p>\n

High-risk occupations include the following:<\/p>\n