Understanding Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS): Risks, Symptoms and Solutions

The inhalation of dust containing quartz particles (crystalline silica) is a recognised health hazard, responsible for causing serious occupational illnesses such as Silicosis, commonly known as “grinder’s asthma”, from the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Our article explores what RCS is, the dangers it poses to health, and how workplaces can and should mitigate the risks associated with this hazardous substance.

What Is Silicosis?

Silicosis is a progressive and often fatal lung disease caused by the exposure to and inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a fine dust produced during activities such as cutting, grinding or working with stone and rock, sands and clays. Without proper control measures, this dust can be easily inhaled, leading to irreversible damage to lung tissue.

Once inhaled, RCS  particles penetrate deep into the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring (fibrosis). Over time, this results in reduced lung function, long term respiratory problems, and, in severe cases, death.

What Are The Symptoms Of Silicosis?

Silicosis symptoms typically develop after prolonged exposure but can vary depending on the duration and intensity of RCS exposure. There are three primary types of silicosis:

• Chronic Silicosis: Develops after 10-20 years of low to moderate exposure.
• Accelerated Silicosis: Occurs after 5-10 years of high exposure.
• Acute Silicosis: A rare form that develops within months to a few years of intense exposure.

Early Symptoms

• Shortness of breath (Dyspnoea) exacerbated by persistent and sometimes severe coughing
• Fatigue and weakness
• Weight loss through loss of appetite
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Dark shallow rifts gradually developing in nails, eventually leading to cracks within nail beds as protein fibres are destroyed

Advanced Symptoms

• Cyanosis (bluish skin discolouration, particularly in upper body areas)
• Cor pulmonale (heart failure caused by lung disease)
• Respiratory insufficiency
• Rapid breathing (tachypnoea)

RCS exposure can also increase the risk of developing complications such as tuberculosis (TB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.

What Natural And Engineered Materials Contain Crystalline Silica?

Crystalline silica is a variant of silica that contains a well-defined crystal structure. Crystalline and non-crystalline silica exist, with crystalline silica being the most hazardous form, which consists of fine particles that can be easily inhaled

Natural Sources

• Quartz - The most  abundant form of crystalline silica.
• Sand – Most sand, particularly beach and desert sand, consists of quartz.
• Granite – Contains a large amount of quartz.
• Chert and flint – Natural materials composed of micro crystalline quartz.

Engineered Materials

• Concrete:  More often than not contains crystalline silica in the form of quartz.
• Abrasives:  Silica sand-based abrasives are often composed of quartz.
• Engineered stone: Can contain over 90% RCS, posing significant health risks.

Engineered stone, in particular, has been associated with faster disease progression and higher mortality rates due to its high RCS concentration.

Who Is Susceptible To Silicosis?

Occupations where you would be most commonly exposed to the risk of silicosis are:

• Construction – demolition, renovation, masonry work and concrete mixing.
• Quarrying and mining – coal mines, metal mines and stone quarries.
• Foundries and metalworking – casting and metal fabrication.
• Ceramics and pottery – material handling and production.
• Stone cutting and fabrication – cutting, grinding, and polishing of stone.

Dusty environments are a major problem in the construction industry and measurements have shown that many construction sites exceed the limit for silica dust. Workers who deal directly with concrete indoors might protect the respiratory tract with a mask, but what about the colleague standing a few meters away?

They are also exposed to the harmful dust.

Dusty environments, particularly in construction, often exceed recommended exposure limits, putting both direct and indirect workers at risk. For example, even a colleague standing a few meters away from a worker cutting concrete may be exposed to harmful silica dust.

It is estimated that over 500,000 workers in the UK construction industry are exposed to silica dust each year.

What Can Be Done To Reduce The Risk Of Silicosis?

All workplaces that work with  RCS- generating materials  must implement stringent control methods to protect workers and comply with legal exposure limits. Below are key strategies to manage and reduce RCS exposure.

Engineering Controls:

• Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV): Install effective extraction systems to capture dust at the source.
• Wet Methods: Use water to suppress dust during cutting or grinding activities.

Administrative Controls:

• Regularly train employees on the risks of RCS and safe working practices.
• Conduct regular air monitoring to ensure RCS levels remain below the workplace exposure limits (WEL) of 0.1mg/m3 (8-hour time-weighted average), as established by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
• Implement workplace policies to rotate tasks and limit prolonged exposure.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Provide workers with approved respiratory protective equipment (RPE), such as filtering facepieces or powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR).
• Ensure PPE is properly fitted, maintained, and used consistently.

Health Surveillance:

• Conduct regular medical check-ups for workers exposed to RCS to detect early signs of silicosis or other related diseases.

The Importance of Early Action

Chronic silicosis may take years to develop, and symptoms may not appear until significant lung damage has occurred..  Proactively managing workplace environments and ensuring compliance with safety measures can save lives and prevent irreversible harm.

Taking action now not only protects your workforce but also helps businesses meet regulatory requirements, improve productivity, and avoid costly legal or healthcare consequences.

How Nederman Can Help

At Nederman, we specialise in advanced extraction and filtration solutions designed to manage RCS and other airborne contaminants. Our systems help you maintain clean air, protect worker health, and ensure compliance with UK health and safety regulations.

To discuss how we can help create a safer, healthier workplace for you and your employees, contact us today.