Silicosis in Stone Crushing Workers-A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction: Silicosis is a progressive, fibrotic and preventable occupational lung disease. Occupational exposure in stone crushing units to silica particles of size 0.5 to 5μm poses a hazard to the workers. Methods: Our study is a passive surveillance study of silicosis in the symptomatic workers referred from Occupational Disease Centre to Department of Radiodiagnosis for chest X-Ray and High Resolution Computerized Tomography on suspicion of occupational lung disease. Period of study was 1 year from 01 January 2016 to 31 December 2016. Results: 8 out of 99 referred patients sent for X-Ray Chest and HRCT Chest werediagnosed as silicosis. These 8 patients worked in stone crushing unit and were male with average age of 42.5 years. 75% showed exposure of 18 to 22 years. Chest X-ray and HRCT Chest were evaluated using the International Labour Organization classification system. Small, rounded opacities were found in 87.5% and 50% of cases showed "t" which are small irregular opacities. Large opacities were 25%. Profusion-1/1 was 50%. There was 12.5% of silicotuberculosis and 12.5% of progressive massive fibrosis. calcified hilar lymph nodes was seen in 50%, emphysema in 25 %, mediastinal lymphatic nodule enlargement in 25%, pleural thickening in 62%. Conclusions: Silicosis is a preventable disease and workers of stone crushing units are at risk of developing silicosis. This study was a passive surveillance study and the actual numbers will be more. Active health screening of the workers needs to be formulated.