What is Silicosis?
Posted on December 22nd, 2019 by Zane Cagle
Silicosis is a disease brought upon by prolonged exposure to silica dust. Factory workers or other tradespeople who work around crystalline silica and inhale the small particles are at risk for serious respiratory illness that could even result in death. The particles enter the lung and the lung tissue reacts to the foreign substance by forming lumps and nodules around the silica dust. This scar tissue can cause a wide range of respiratory dysfunction. If you or a loved one is suffering from any type of respiratory illness and you have been exposed to silica dust over a long period of time, please contact a St. Louis personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You could be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries.
Symptoms of Silicosis
If you have suffered any of the following symptoms and you have been exposed to or you were in an environment containing crystalline silica dust, you should speak with an attorney about your options:
- Trouble breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Chest discomfort
- Rapid and/or labored breathing
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss
- Chronic cough
- Severe breathing difficulty
Individuals who suffer from silicosis are also at a greater risk for respiratory infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.
There are different types of silicosis:
- Simple chronic silicosis – this usually occurs after 20+ years of exposure to low to moderate levels of silica dust and can result in respiratory problems. If you believe you have chronic silicosis, it is very important that you get a chest x-ray because you may not be suffering from any symptoms.
- Accelerated silicosis – this usually occurs anywhere from 5 to 15 years after exposure to moderate or larger amounts of crystalline silica dust. Swelling, nodes and scarring in the lungs will show with greater rapidity in these cases.
- Acute silicosis – this can occur in a matter of months after a shorter term exposure to very large amounts of silica dust. This type of silicosis can be very severe and can result in death.
If you believe that you or a loved one may have silicosis or any other respiratory dysfunction due to your line of work or chemical inhalation, please don’t hesitate to speak with an attorney. A skilled St. Louis silicosis lawyer at the firm can help you to recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Missouri Silicosis Lawyer at The Cagle Law Firm today, toll free 1.800.685.3302 or locally 314.276.1681.