Silicosis a big concern?

Reopening this topic as i dont see much info on it.  I put about 200 bolts probably in different types of rock in southern oregon and never wore a mask or anything. Breathing in all that dust got me thinking, so is it a concern at all at that level? sometimes i would blow all the dust straight into my face lol.  Thinking i need a mask here on out

Whether it is or isn't a concern there really is no reason not to wear a mask so I always wear one when drilling or blowing around dust.

Wear a mask or get really good at holding your breath while working. 

Not a concern in limestone. I still wear a mask.

Sparkington TheThirdwrote:

Not a concern in limestone. 

Why do you say not a concern in limestone? 

https://web.faa.illinois.edu/app/uploads/sites/6/2021/05/Limestone.pdf

Mike Bondwrote:

Why do you say not a concern in limestone? 

https://web.faa.illinois.edu/app/uploads/sites/6/2021/05/Limestone.pdf

Your right. Sorry coming from a stonemasonry point of view. It's the rock of least concern for silicosis, and we generally consider that possible 1 percent negligible. That doesn't mean we don't wear masks or protect ourselves. But you only have one set of lungs, so I shouldn't have been so dismissive.

Sparkington TheThirdwrote:

Your right. Sorry coming from a stonemasonry point of view. It's the rock of least concern for silicosis, and we generally consider that possible 1 percent negligible. That doesn't mean we don't wear masks or protect ourselves. But you only have one set of lungs, so I shouldn't have been so dismissive.

Fair enough.  I assumed there was some reason, and the average % by type of rock is certainly relevant when making risk management decisions.  I believe different types of limestone are likely to have more silica than others.  For instance, lots of southwest limestone has embedded chert that I believe contains high levels of silica. 

However, I'll admit I have never worn a mask for bolting.  So, I am being pretty hypocritical about the topic I guess.  

Thankfully the work we do is (usually) well ventilated. I have worn a mask when bolting, but often times forget. The risk of silicosis is real, however I'm sure the onset will be very insidious. A quick google shows the onset for "accelerated" exposure -- the kind in stonemasons etc to be 3-10 years. I feel that the exposure levels most developers are in is more in the type of chronic exposure and would start showing sympoms after 10-30 years. I don't think the cohort of climbers who have 30 years of developing sport climbs on granite is big enough to get a real set of data just yet...maybe in a few more decades the data will be there.

Anyway when doing big scrubbing projects I always try to wear a mask/eye pro and have noticed feeling sooo much better the day after. 

Anyway when doing big scrubbing projects I always try to wear a mask/eye pro and have noticed feeling sooo much better the day after. 

Do you attribute the day after feeling to brushing rock dust around or the usual moss n' stuff? 

Améliewrote:

Do you attribute the day after feeling to brushing rock dust around or the usual moss n' stuff? 

Less itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion. I think first and foremost it keeps dirt from getting in sensitive areas. Maybe less of an immune response to all the mold / microbial life that we aerosolize and then breathe? I mean leaf blowers send up lots of stuff our mucus membranes don’t get along with. Any protection against silicosis is a plus. Clean your ears with a q-tip dipped in warm water after scrubbing to see what I mean lol

what scares me about silicosis is the only times I see it diagnosed in a hospital is way after exposure during lengthy ICU stay for respiratory infections. Like you may feel fine now, but 50 years down the line when COVID 2060 hits that will be different story. Stiff lungs are hard to respirate and ventilate.

The other sorta nonsensical but totally real fear I has is of rabies. My cousin died from rabies in 2012 from exposure likely gained in California. He claimed on his death bed that he did not get bit by a bat. He was a surveyor under bridges and had exposure to bat nesting sites….so maybe avoid those areas if you come across them.

I want to keep scrubbing and putting titanium/stainless bolts into granite for a looong time. I’ve seen buddies who fiberglass boats who didn’t take the whole “no beards with a respirator” thing not seriously and get diagnosed with occupational asthma. So to me these are def real risks and worth mitigating. 

Dylan Stuartwrote:

Less itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion. I think first and foremost it keeps dirt from getting in sensitive areas. Maybe less of an immune response to all the mold / microbial life that we aerosolize and then breathe? I mean leaf blowers send up lots of stuff our mucus membranes don’t get along with. Any protection against silicosis is a plus. Clean your ears with a q-tip dipped in warm water after scrubbing to see what I mean lol

what scares me about silicosis is the only times I see it diagnosed in a hospital is way after exposure during lengthy ICU stay for respiratory infections. Like you may feel fine now, but 50 years down the line when COVID 2060 hits that will be different story. Stiff lungs are hard to respirate and ventilate.

The other sorta nonsensical but totally real fear I has is of rabies. My cousin died from rabies in 2012 from exposure likely gained in California. He claimed on his death bed that he did not get bit by a bat. He was a surveyor under bridges and had exposure to bat nesting sites….so maybe avoid those areas if you come across them.

I want to keep scrubbing and putting titanium/stainless bolts into granite for a looong time. I’ve seen buddies who fiberglass boats who didn’t take the whole “no beards with a respirator” thing not seriously and get diagnosed with occupational asthma. So to me these are def real risks and worth mitigating. 

Excellent description and having worked a ton around stone cutting/polishing as well as fiberglass boat repair and cement stucco I hope my constant use of respirator masks in the second half of my life makes up for those younger years of ignorance...

Naah!

Sparkington TheThirdwrote:

Your [sic] right. Sorry coming from a stonemasonry point of view. It's the rock of least concern for silicosis, and we generally consider that possible 1 percent negligible. That doesn't mean we don't wear masks or protect ourselves. But you only have one set of lungs, so I shouldn't have been so dismissive.

I assume this means the same for marble?

Dylan Stuartwrote:

Less itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion. I think first and foremost it keeps dirt from getting in sensitive areas. Maybe less of an immune response to all the mold / microbial life that we aerosolize and then breathe? I mean leaf blowers send up lots of stuff our mucus membranes don’t get along with. Any protection against silicosis is a plus. Clean your ears with a q-tip dipped in warm water after scrubbing to see what I mean lol

what scares me about silicosis is the only times I see it diagnosed in a hospital is way after exposure during lengthy ICU stay for respiratory infections. Like you may feel fine now, but 50 years down the line when COVID 2060 hits that will be different story. Stiff lungs are hard to respirate and ventilate.

The other sorta nonsensical but totally real fear I has is of rabies. My cousin died from rabies in 2012 from exposure likely gained in California. He claimed on his death bed that he did not get bit by a bat. He was a surveyor under bridges and had exposure to bat nesting sites….so maybe avoid those areas if you come across them.

I want to keep scrubbing and putting titanium/stainless bolts into granite for a looong time. I’ve seen buddies who fiberglass boats who didn’t take the whole “no beards with a respirator” thing not seriously and get diagnosed with occupational asthma. So to me these are def real risks and worth mitigating. 

So valid. Thanks for sharing, and so sorry to hear about your cousin.