Hazard Review
NIOSH
Hazard Review: Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline
Silica DHHS (NIOSH) Publication
No. 2002-129 (April 2002)
This Hazard Review describes published studies and literature
on the health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline
silica among workers in the U.S. and many other countries. Occupational
exposures to respirable crystalline silica are associated with the development
of silicosis, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and airways diseases.
These exposures may also be related to the development of autoimmune disorders,
chronic renal disease, and other adverse health effects.
NIOSH Recommendations for Preventing Silicosis
Criteria for a Recommended Standard—Crystalline
Silica
DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 75-120 (1974)
This report presents the criteria and recommended standards for preventing
occupational diseases arising from exposure to crystalline variants of
free silica. Criteria presented in this document do not pertain to amorphous,
noncrystalline forms of silica.
Current Intelligence Bulletin #36:
Silica Flour: Silicosis (Crystalline Silica)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-137 (1981)
This report warns producers and users of silica flour that the risk of
developing silicosis may be very high for exposed workers.
NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in
Preventing Silicosis and Deaths from Sandblasting
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-102 (1992)
En
Español
This Alert describes 99 cases of silicosis from exposure to crystalline
silica during sandblasting. Of the 99 workers reported, 14 have already
died from the disease, and the remaining 85 may die eventually from silicosis
or its complications.
Alert: Request in Preventing Silicosis
and Deaths in Rock Drillers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-107 (1992)
This Alert describes 23 cases of silicosis from exposure to crystalline
silica during rock drilling. Of the 23 workers reported, 2 workers have
already died from the disease, and the remaining 21 may die eventually
from silicosis or its complications.
NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance
in Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Construction Workers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-112 (1996)
En
Español
This Alert describes six case reports of construction workers who have
died or are suffering from silicosis. In addition, the Alert cites examples
of five construction operations that used poor dust controls and two operations
that used good dust controls.
Occupational Health Guideline for Amorphous Silica
 PDF
only 4187 KB (130 pages)
This guideline is intended as a source of information for employees, employers,
physicians, industrial hygienists and other occupational health professionals
who may have a need for information on amorphous silica.
Occupational Health Guideline for Crystalline Silica
PDF
only 4187 KB (130 pages)
This guideline is intended as a source of information for employees, employers,
physicians, industrial hygienists and other occupational health professionals
who may have a need for a need for information on crystalline silica.
B-Reader Program
To B or Not to B: The NIOSH B-Reader
Program
NIOSH B Reader certification is granted to physicians who demonstrate
proficiency in the classification of chest x-rays for the pneumoconioses
using the International Labour Office (ILO) Classification System.
NIOSH Spirometry Training
Page
Information about training for those individuals who will be administering
screening pulmonary function testing to employees who are exposed to cotton
dust.
Respirators
NIOSH Respirator Topic Page
Provides nformation about respirators, including user notices,
respirator selection, respirator certification processes, standards and
rulemaking.
Certified Equipment List
Database of all certified respirators and coal mine dust personal
sampler units.
Video Programs
NIOSH Training Videos
Some NIOSH video programs are available online in streaming and downloadable
formats. All NIOSH video programs can be borrowed (and copied) free of
charge.
Silicosis Education Campaign
A Guide To Working Safely With Silica: If It's Silica, It's Not
Just Dust (1997)
PDF
only 213 KB (21 pages)
This guide, a cooperative effort between the Department of Labor and NIOSH,
explains how you can protect yourself and others if you work in one of
the dozens of industries where dust containing silica is present.
If It's Silica, It's Not Just Dust
- Announcement of Joint Campaign on Silicosis Prevention
Introductory informational page linking to press releases and NIOSH publications
on the subject.
Press Release on Joint Campaign
on Silicosis Prevention
Reprint of original press release from the U.S. Department of Labor -
Office of Public Affairs
"Preventing Silicosis?"
(October 31, 1996)
En
Español
Reprint of U.S. Department of Labor fact sheet.
Sampling and Analytical Methods
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM),
4th edition
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-113 (1994)
NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants
in workplace air, and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally
exposed. These methods have been developed or adapted by NIOSH or its
partners and have been evaluated according to established experimental
protocols and performance criteria. NMAM also includes chapters on quality
assurance, sampling, portable instrumentation, etc.
- Method #7501 - Silica, Amorphous
PDF
only 44 KB (8 pages)
- Method #7500 - Silica, Crystalline, by XRD
PDF
only 50 KB (8 pages)
- Method #7601 - Silica, Crystalline
PDF
only 28 KB (5 pages)
- Method #7602 - Silica, Crystalline (IR)
PDF
only 29 KB (5 pages)
- Method #7603 - Silica in coal mine dust
PDF
only 33 KB (6 pages)
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
(NPG)
The NPG is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information
on several hundred chemicals/classes to assist workers, employers, and
occupational health professionals in recognizing and controlling chemical
hazards.
Worker Notification Program
Through the NIOSH Worker Notification Program, NIOSH notifies workers and other stakeholders about the findings of past research studies related to a wide variety of exposures. The links below present archival materials sent to participants in studies related to drycleaning.
Surveillance
Atlas of Respiratory Disease Mortality,
United States: 1982-1993
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-157 (1998)
This report presents maps showing geographic distributions (by health
service area) of mortality associated with selected respiratory conditions
that together represent nearly all respiratory diseases. For categories
of traditional occupational lung diseases mapped in this atlas (i.e.,
the pneumoconioses, including coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, asbestosis,
silicosis, byssinosis, and other and unspecified pneumoconioses), nearly
all cases are attributable to hazardous occupational exposure.
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report
The MMWR weekly contains data on specific diseases as reported by state
and territorial health departments and reports on infectious and chronic
diseases, environmental hazards, natural or human-generated disasters,
occupational diseases and injuries, and intentional and unintentional
injuries. Included here are a collection of articles related to occupational
exposure to silica.
Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance (ORDS)
NIOSH Topic Page about occupational respiratory disease medical screening and monitoring
Worker Health Chartbook, 2000
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-127 (2000)
The Chartbook presents data and charts that characterize types of injuries
and illnesses by gender, race, industry, and occupation. In May 2002 sections
of the Chartbook were re-packaged in booklets highlighting fatal and nonfatal
illnesses and injuries as well as a focus on mining.
- Fatal Illness
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-118
PDF
only 1664 KB (60 pages)
- Nonfatal Illness
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-120
PDF
only 2844 KB (68 pages)
Work Related Lung Disease
Surveillance Report 2002
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-111 (2002)
The sixth of a series, the Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance
Report 2002 provides information on various work-related respiratory diseases
and associated exposures in the United States. The WoRLD Surveillance
Report 2002 describes where these diseases are occurring (by industry
and geographic location), who is affected (by race, gender, age, and occupation),
how frequently they occur, and temporal trends.
Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance
Report 1999
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-105 (1999)
This Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report presents summary
tables and figures of occupational respiratory disease surveillance data
focusing on various occupationally-relevant respiratory diseases, including
pneumoconioses, occupational asthma and other airways diseases, and several
other respiratory conditions. For many of these diseases, selected data
on related exposures are also presented.
Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance
Report 1996
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-134 (1996)
This 1996 Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report provides
national and state-specific summaries of occupational respiratory disease
surveillance data focusing on pneumoconiosis mortality. Selected occupational
respiratory hazard sampling data relevant to pneumoconiosis are also presented.
Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance
Report 1994
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-120 (1994)
The 1994 Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report (WoRLD) provides
a summary of surveillance data for various occupational respiratory diseases,
from a variety of sources, in a readily available format. The majority
of the data in this report is for the time period 1968-1990.
Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance
Report Supplement 1992
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-113s (1992)
Supplement to the first Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report
(WoRLD) which presents updated data and data which was previously unpresented
including sex, race, geographic distribution, industry and occupation;
number of discharges with silicosis or asbestosis from the National Hospital
Discharge Survey; and reports of occupational asthma and silicosis from
the SENSOR program.
Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance
Report
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-113 (1991)
First of a series of Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Reports (WoRLD)
represents a summary of data for various occupational respiratory diseases
divided into figures and tables.
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