The new asbestos: the hidden danger of silica dust

Written by: Irvin Herman

Respirable crystalline silica, or RCS, is a microscopic hazard that hides in plain sight across countless industries. These tiny fragments of silica are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they can cause lasting damage. Particle size dictates the severity of health risks; larger fragments irritate the throat, while smaller ones penetrate deeper into the lungs, with particles under 4 microns reaching the alveoli and causing chronic disease (Magalhaes, 2026).

Found naturally in soil & sand, stone, mortar, concrete, engineered stone, bricks, and ceramics, RCS appears in several forms with quartz being the most common, alongside cristobalite and tridymite. Each has its own industrial uses: quartz in concrete, foundry sand, abrasives and glass manufacturing; cristobalite in plastics, paints, ceramics, and even dental prosthetics; and tridymite in refractory materials used in glass furnaces (Magalhaes, 2026).

While these applications are vital to modern life, the health risks of RCS exposure are severe. “Crystalline silica particles, causes multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease” (OSHA, 2019). RCS shares similar damage mechanisms similar to asbestos. Autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular impairment have also been linked to long-term exposure (OSHA, 2019).

The danger is particularly acute in certain occupations. Construction workers face exposure when sawing, grinding, or demolishing concrete; tilers inhale particles when cutting ceramic tiles; brick makers handle silica-rich cement (Magalhaes, 2026). Agricultural workers are a group which is often overlooked in relation to RCS exposure. In a 2002 research conducted by Jan Lindsay it was determined that St. Lucia’s soil is rich in silica, on account of silica deposits during volcanic activity. Farmers would aerosolise RCS through practices like plowing, harvesting, and sifting soil (South Dakota Department of Health).

Crystalline Silica is both a central component of many industries and a hidden threat to worker health. Its widespread presence in everyday materials makes it easy to overlook, yet its impact on the human body is profound. Protecting workers requires vigilance, awareness, and applying strict control measures such as minimising dust aerosolization through wet cutting, grinding and drilling to ensure that the benefits of silica do not come at the cost of long-term harm to staff and individuals in within close proximity of work sites.

References

Magalhaes, Leandro. “Respirable Crystalline Silica: Advanced Sampling & Analysis for OSHA/MSHA Compliance Confirmation”. Eurofins, 5 Feb. 2026. Webinar

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Silica, Crystalline.” United States Department of Labour, 2019, https://www.osha.gov/silica-crystalline/health-effects#:~:text=Breathing%20in%20very%20small%20(%22respirable,shortness%20of%20breath%20upon%20exercising.

International Agency for Research on Cancer. “List of Classifications – Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs” World Health Organisation, March 2026, https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications/

Lindsay, Jan. “St. Lucia” Seismic Research Unit, The University of the West Indies, 2002, pp. 225

South Dakota Department of Health. “Silicosis” United States Department of Health, https://doh.sd.gov/diseases/silicosis/#:~:text=Farmers%20may%20also%20develop%20silicosis,breathed%20in%20by%20the%20farmer.