SILICOSIS IN INDIA

SILICOSIS IN INDIA

Context:

In India, many workers in the mines, construction, and industry die silently from exposure to dust. This is better-called silicosis.

What is Silicosis?

• It can be defined as an occupational disease or accident due to dust exposure. It is incurable and can cause permanent disability. However, it is completely blocked by the available control methods and technologies.

About Silicosis:

• It is a progressive lung disease caused by prolonged inhaling silk, which is characterized by shortness of breath, cough, fever and blue skin.
• Silicosis occurs mainly in people working in the quarrying, manufacturing and construction industries.
• It is one of the most common health diseases in the world.
• It is also reported in people with non-functional exposure to silica dust from industrial sources and non-industrial sources.
• Exposure to large amounts of free silica may not be noticeable because silica is odourless, irritating and does not cause immediate health effects, but long-term exposure is associated with pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, lung disease and other lung diseases.

Silica (SiO2/silicon dioxide):

• It is a crystal-like mineral found in abundance in sand, rock, and quartz.