SILICOSIS CASE REPORTS

Case No. 1–Sandblaster
A 39-year-old man was diagnosed with silicosis (progressive massive fibrosis) and tuberculosis in April 1993 after working 22 years as a sandblaster. He had noticed a gradual increase in shortness of breath, wheezing, and discomfort from minimal exertion. Tissue taken from his lungs showed extensive fibrosis.

The sandblaster was first diagnosed with silicosis in 1991 when a coworker had developed tuberculosis and the State health department had administered chest X-rays and skin testing to the entire crew. He was one of 20 workers who sandblasted welds during water tank construction to prepare the metal for painting. While sandblasting, he wore a charcoal filter respirator. During a 10- to 11-hour day, he spent 6 hours sandblasting.

Two brothers and three nephews who worked with him all tested positive for tuberculosis. A brother-in-law had also worked at the company for 20 years but had died from progressive silicosis in 1984 at age 42.

Case No. 2–Tile Installer
A white male nonsmoker was diagnosed with advanced silicosis, emphysema, and asthma at age 49 after working 23 years as a tile installer. He had reported shortness of breath and pneumonia.

His work included polishing and drilling tile, and he was exposed to grout dust and sandblasting (though he did not do sandblasting). He did not use a respirator. Information about dust controls was not available.Case No. 3–Brick Mason

A white male nonsmoker was diagnosed with silicosis, emphysema, and lung cancer at age 70 after working 41 years as a mason laying brick. The diagnosis was made after an open lung biopsy (a chest X-ray had shown no evidence of silicosis).

This worker spent part of his time around coke ovens doing fire brick work. He wore a respirator when he was working in dusty conditions. Information about dust controls was not available.

Case No. 4–Rock Driller

A 47-year-old man was diagnosed with severe silicosis after working 22 years as a rock driller. He was diagnosed in 1992 after he was brought to a hospital with respiratory failure and right heart failure. In the Spring of 1994, while he was on a ventilator, he died from respiratory failure. His autopsy confirmed advanced silicosis.

Before this worker’s diagnosis, he had never seen a doctor and had never had a chest X-ray. The drills he used were equipped with dust controls, but they were routinely inoperable.

Case No. 5–Tunnel Worker

A white male worker died of silicosis at age 69 after working 2 years as a tunnel construction worker and 40 years as a nurse. He had been a smoker until age 59 and was exposed to silica during his 2-year employment in tunnel construction. Information about respirator use and dust controls was not available.

His nursing assignments included 5 years with the U.S. Public Health Service, 27 years with an automobile manufacturer, 1 year with a paper manufacturer, 6 years with various hospitals, and 1 year with a magazine publisher.

Case No. 6–Building Renovation Mason

A 55-year-old man was diagnosed in 1994 with simple silicosis after working 30 years as a building renovation mason. Although a lung biopsy revealed silicotic nodules, he was still working as of 1995.
This mason used an air-supplied respirator while sandblasting during the past 25 years. Sand (or occasionally coal slag) was the usual abrasive. The frequency of sandblasting was reported to be 12 times per year in the past and twice per year currently. Periodically, the mason used a handheld masonry saw with no water on the blade (though he did wear a disposable particulate filter respirator).