Workers involved in the manufacture and use of engineered stone may develop a rapidly progressive form of silicosis.
Engineered (artificial) stone is a synthetic material that is a composite of resins, pigments, and crushed stone with a high content of silica. It may contain up to 90% silica, which is much greater than that of natural stone.
Features of the silicosis:
(1) relatively young age at onset
(2) median exposures of 15 years
(3) a potentially severe disease with progressive fibrosis
(4) variable autoimmune features with positive autoantibodies
Imaging studies may show diverse patterns including hilar adenopathy, ground glass opacities, fibrosis, and silico-proteinosis.
Reasons for delay in diagnosis:
(1) failure to elicit an occupational history
(2) misdiagnosis as an autoimmune disease
(3) lack of awareness
(4) mild reduction in lung function
(5) delay in order chest imaging
