Silicosis: a review.

ilicosis is a potentially fatal, irreversible, fibrotic pulmonary disease that ay develop subsequent to the inhalation of large amounts of silica dust ver time. In most circumstances, silicosis only develops subsequent to ubstantial occupational exposures. The disease has a long latency period nd may clinically present as an acute, accelerated, or chronic disease. The pathophysiology of chronic silicosis involves chronic inflammation rising as a result of the accumulation of various inflammatory mediators nd fibrogenic factors. Under the influence of these factors, pulmonary ilicoproteinosis develops as eosinophilic proteinaceous material accuulates in the pulmonary alveolar spaces. The rate of disease progression ppears to depend upon the rate of silica deposition in the lungs, as well s the total amount of crystalline silica that is actually retained in the lung. In some cases, silicosis may be associated with the concomitant developent of other diseases, including tuberculosis, cancer, or autoimmune disease. urrently, no cure or effective treatment is available for silicosis. Due to the association between occupational exposure to silica and the ubsequent development of silicosis, a variety of federal and state agencies ave initiated strict regulations aimed at preventing the development of ilicosis in certain workers. These regulations generally emphasize adeuate ventilation on job sites and limiting the amount of time workers ay spend in potentially exposing environments. istorical Perspective