New modelling by Curtin University suggests that up to 10,000 Australians are predicted to develop lung cancer in their lifetime from being exposed to silica, with more than half a million Australian workers currently subjected to the harmful dust.
Home renovations hit an all-time high during the pandemic ($12.3 billion in 2021) and the increased use of engineered stone in kitchen benchtops has driven a re-emergence of silicosis, with nearly one in four workers (in the industry since before 2018) impacted by silica dust related diseases.
Silica dust, defined as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, is also found naturally in many building and construction products, including sand, soil, stone, concrete, and mortar, as well as being used in the manufacture of building products such as bricks, tiles, and glass.
Lead researcher Dr Renee Carey, from Curtin’s School of Population Health, said the modelling, commissioned by the Australian Council of Trade Unions, provided the best available estimate of the future number of lung cancer and silicosis cases that would result from workplace exposure to silica.
“Our modelling predicts more than 10,000 Australians will develop lung cancer and up to 103,000 workers will be diagnosed with silicosis as the result of their current exposure to silica dust at work,” Dr Carey said.
“We estimated that more than half a million Australian workers are currently exposed to silica dust across various industries, including construction, mining and quarrying, and manufacturing jobs.”
Silicosis has no cure and as exposure to silica can take years or even decades to develop to the point where obvious symptoms arise, many people in the industry may not be aware of the urgent need for health assessments.
Co-author and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Lin Fritschi, also from the Curtin School of Population Health, said banning engineered stone would save lives – almost 100 lung cancers and a thousand silicosis cases could be prevented.
“While a complete ban of engineered stone would be the best option, it is possible to reduce the health impacts of working with engineered stone by various methods such as mandatory wet-cutting or on-tool dust extraction, as long as these methods are combined with the consistent use of high-quality respiratory protection,” Professor Fritschi said.
“The damage from other types of silica-containing materials could be reduced by using better dust suppression techniques on mine and construction sites and using wet-cutting during concrete cutting and grinding.”
Dr Carey said further research was needed and better estimates may be possible as new information becomes available.
The full report can be viewed online here.