Detailed table of possible sources of exposure

Main industries and activities around the world in which silica exposure has been reported

Industry or activity

Operations and tasks

Source materials
Agriculture Plowing, harvesting, using machinery, burning agricultural waste, processing agricultural products Soil
Mining and related milling operations Most occupations (underground, surface, mill) and mines (metal and nonmetal, coal), rock drilling, dredging Ores, associated rock
Quarrying and related milling operations Crushing stone, sand and gravel processing, stone monument cutting and abrasive blasting, slate work (e.g., pencil manufacturing), diatomite calcination Sandstone, granite, flint, sand, gravel, slate, diatomaceous earth
Construction Abrasive blasting of structures and buildings, highway and tunnel construction, excavation and earth moving and digging, masonry, concrete work, demolition, dry sweeping and brushing, pressurized air blowing, jack hammering, laying railroad track, removing rust or paint, sanding and scaling, replacement of asphalt roofing, and hauling, pouring, mixing, or dumping silica-containing materials Sand, concrete, rock, soil, mortar, plaster, shingles
Glass, including fiberglass Raw material processing, refractory installation and repair Sand, crushed quartz, refractory materials
Cement Raw material processing Clay, sand, limestone, diatomaceous earth
Abrasives Silicon carbide production, abrasive products fabrication Sand, tripoli, sandstone
Ceramics, including bricks, tiles, sanitary ware, porcelain, pottery, refractories, vitreous enamels Mixing, molding, glaze or enamel spraying, finishing, sculpting, firing Clay, shale, flint, sand, quartzite, diatomaceous earth
Iron and steel mills Refractory preparation and furnace repair Refractory material
Silicon and ferro-silicon foundries (ferrous and nonferrous) Raw materials handling, casting, molding and shaking out, abrasive blasting, fettling, furnace installation and repair Sand, refractory material
Metal products, including structural metal, machinery, transportation equipment Abrasive blasting Sand
Shipbuilding and repair Abrasive blasting Sand
Rubber and plastics Raw materials handling Fillers (tripoli, diatomaceous earth)
Paint Raw materials handling, site preparation Fillers (tripoli, diatomaceous earth, silica flour)
Soaps and cosmetics Manufacturing or occupational use of abrasive soaps and scouring powders Silica flour
Roofing asphalt felt Filling and granule application Sand and aggregate, diatomaceous earth
Agricultural chemicals Raw material crushing, handling, bagging; or dumping products or raw materials Phosphate ores and rock
Jewelry Cutting, grinding, polishing, buffing, etching, engraving, casting, chipping, sharpening, sculpting Semiprecious gems or stones, abrasives, glass

 

 

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