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Related Subjects: | Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis | Diffuse Parenchymal Lung disease | Asbestos Related Lung disease | Sarcoidosis | Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis | Silicosis | Farmer's Lung | Cryptogenic Organising Pneumonia (COP-BOOP) | Extrinsic Allergic alveolitis (Hypersensitivity) | Pneumoconiosis | Cor Pulmonale
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is found in stone, rocks, sands and clays.Exposure to RCS over a long period can cause fibrosis (hardening or scarring) of the lung tissue with a consequent loss of lung function. In Britain, RCS exposure has a workplace exposure limit (WEL), which contains exposure below a set limit, preventing excessive exposure.
Type of Stone | Percentage of Silica |
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sandstone, gritstone, quartzite | more than 70% |
concrete, mortar | 25% to 70% |
shale | 40% to 60% |
china stone | up to 50% |
slate | up to 40% |
brick | up to 30% |
granite | up to 30% |
ironstone | up to 15% |
basalt, dolerite | up to 5% |
limestone, chalk, marble | up to 2% (but these can contain silica layers) |