Danger Dust

A disturbing detail has been discovered in those most at-risk when in comes to what is being labelled the “new asbestos” that is plaguing the construction and mining industries.

Lung Foundation Australia is exposing the risk of silicosis, which impacts more than 600,000 Aussies in the construction, mining, manufacturing and tunnelling industries.

Silicosis is caused by items with a high silica content such as engineered stone — which has been linked to the incurable illness since 2015. Engineered stone is a common item used in kitchen benchtops but is banned in Australia.

Workers need to be in full protective gear to cut the engineered stone while it’s wet for it to be considered “safe”.

However, a survey of more than 500 people in the most vulnerable industries revealed that only 36 per cent knew what symptoms to look out for.

Symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, which can appear from a few weeks to many years after exposure to silica dust.

A whopping 78 per cent are aware of silica dust and the risk of silicosis but only 23 per cent are worried about developing the lung condition. Only eight per cent have discussed it with a health professional and just 34 per cent understand it’s incurable.