AboutSandy Brown, CHSP Expertise My expertise is in all the various aspects of industrial health and safety. I have worked 5 years as a Safety Officer in a hospital and 1 year in a heavy manufacturing environment.
Experience American Society for Quality
Board of Certified Healthcare Safety Professionals
WSCPA
Bachelor of Science in Safety & Health Management
HAZWOPER Certified
Decon Certified Trainer
American Red Cross Instructor CPR (Adult, Child, Infant)/First Aid/AED
MOAB Certified Instructor
OSHA 501 General Industry Certification
How long will it take for nodular lesions to develop in the lungs after I sniffed fine Quartz powder for odor curiosity?
Quartz is 98% SiO2, which causes Silicosis according to OSHA
Does SiO2 stay in the lungs for ever or does it leave eventually? If it leaves then how long would it take for it to leave if I sniffed a SiO2 powder to determine how it smells. I however did not cough or felt any irritation to my lungs or the esophagus.
Also, If SiO2 stays for ever in your lungs, does it cause cumulative damage with time aside from being trapped in the lungs, provided that you stop further exposure to SiO2
Therefore, the original question is: How long until nodular lesions would develop for an X-ray scan to detect? And does one feel pain as nodular lesion development progresses?
Answer Dear Maksim,
You sound really shook up about this. How and why did you sniff this sand? If you really want a conclusive answer to your particular medical question (I don't know how long, or how much you sniffed.) you should consult a medical doctor who specializes in occupational medicine.
In the meantime, I have copied and pasted some information for you here. Also, you can search the internet for additional information.
"Inhaling finely divided crystalline silica dust in very small quantities (OSHA allows 0.1mg/m3) over time can lead to silicosis, bronchitis or (much more rarely) cancer, as the dust becomes lodged in the lungs and continuously irritates them, reducing lung capacities (silica does not dissolve over time). This effect can be an occupational hazard for people working with sandblasting equipment, products that contain powdered silica, and so on. But children, asthmatics of any age, allergy sufferers and the elderly, all of whom have reduced lung capacity, can be affected in much shorter periods of time.
In all other respects, silicon dioxide is inert and harmless. When silica is ingested orally, it passes unchanged through the gastrointestinal tract, exiting in the feces, leaving no trace behind. Small pieces of silicon dioxide are equally harmless, as long as they are not large enough to mechanically obstruct the GI tract, or jagged enough to lacerate its lining. Silicon dioxide produces no fumes and is insoluble in vivo. It is indigestible, with zero nutritional value and zero toxicity."
I hope this helps. I would recommend that you discontinue sniffing this material.
All my best,
Sandy
