Everybody should be aware of the danger of the usage of the silica, natural mineral. Silica is considered to be one of common minerals in the earth. Silica is available in sands, granite, sandstones inclusive of slate. It is also present in coalmine. To be frank, over exposure to the silica causes the silicosis which is also called Potters rot. This is a type of lung disease. If persons inhale the air containing the dust particles of crystalline silica, they will suffer from painful inflammatory nodules in the lungs. There are other side effects of the usage of this mineral. It is not healthy for the people and therefore one should be much careful about the side effects of exposure to the silica mineral.
Frankly speaking those who suffer from moderate to extreme silicosis or Potters rot disease will have the bitter experience from dispnea, illness, high temperature, cyanosis, tuberculosis including pneumonia. At the time of the inhalation process, the tiny particles of silica enter into the alveolar pouches or ducts inside the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and CO2 gases is done via biological process. These tiny particles will be embedded in the lungs. Later nodular lesions can occur from such silica deposits inside the lungs. Furthermore, the steady increase in the amount of silicon radicals which snowball into oxygen plus hydroxyl radicals inclusive of hydrogen peroxide will do massive damage to the cellular structure encircling the lungs. Therefore, people should avoid silicon based materials or products. It is seen those who work in coal mines and other working places where there is the vast usage of silicon must protect themselves with the sophisticated equipment and other accessories to avoid silicon.
Though silicon is very common mineral and people are well acquainted with the adverse impact of this mineral, the continuous expansion of the coal mine industry and other silicon based products manufacturing factories puts general persons in danger. For instance, in 1930, the tragic incident of the attack of silicosis which took the form of epidemic occurred owing to the presence of the Hawks Nest Tunnel adjacent to Gauley Bridge in West Virginia. The blitzkrieg of the silicosis claimed 400 lives due to exposure to the silica. Therefore, new laws have been formed to provide the safeguards to people from the severity of this dangerous mineral. To get the current data, one can browse the net to gather more specific knowledge about the danger and side effects of silica.
In addition to causing silicosis, some medical research
indicates that silica can induce mesothelioma, a life-threatening
cancer that begins in the mesothelium tissue which surrounds the
lungs, the stomach, and the heart. Silicosis, as well as lung
cancer, lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis, have been
linked to the prolonged exposure to silica. Symptoms of silicosis
include blue lips, fatigue, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath
and loss of appetite. Complications of silicosis also include
tuberculosis.