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Date of Award
Spring 2023
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Diana Hawthorne
Abstract
Silicosis has typically been classified as a chronic disease that develops after at least 10 years of exposure to silica dust, often associated with mining and stone workers. As industries have changed over time, workers have become exposed to higher levels of silica, leading to the development of acute and accelerated silicosis. Some modern occupations that pose especially high risks for developing acute and accelerated silicosis include artificial stonework, jewelry polishing, and denim production. Acute silicosis can develop in as little as a few months, and accelerated silicosis can develop in as little as 2 years. As in chronic silicosis, there is no cure for acute or accelerated silicosis. Lung transplantation is the only life-saving treatment in all forms of silicosis. Physician assistants, particularly in primary care settings, need to understand when patients are at risk for developing silicosis and not assume that a short time of exposure precludes the development of silicosis. It is important to teach workers about prevention when working in occupations at risk of silicosis exposure (e.g., wet-cutting, dust suppression systems, ventilation, and personal protective equipment).
Recommended Citation
Cena, Ashley, "Silicosis, No Longer Exclusively a Chronic Disease" (2023). Capstone Showcase. 12.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2023/pa/12
Silicosis, No Longer Exclusively a Chronic Disease
Silicosis has typically been classified as a chronic disease that develops after at least 10 years of exposure to silica dust, often associated with mining and stone workers. As industries have changed over time, workers have become exposed to higher levels of silica, leading to the development of acute and accelerated silicosis. Some modern occupations that pose especially high risks for developing acute and accelerated silicosis include artificial stonework, jewelry polishing, and denim production. Acute silicosis can develop in as little as a few months, and accelerated silicosis can develop in as little as 2 years. As in chronic silicosis, there is no cure for acute or accelerated silicosis. Lung transplantation is the only life-saving treatment in all forms of silicosis. Physician assistants, particularly in primary care settings, need to understand when patients are at risk for developing silicosis and not assume that a short time of exposure precludes the development of silicosis. It is important to teach workers about prevention when working in occupations at risk of silicosis exposure (e.g., wet-cutting, dust suppression systems, ventilation, and personal protective equipment).