Health authorities in Massachusetts, USA have announced the detection of the first confirmed case of a life-threatening lung disease linked to kitchen surfaces made of certain types of stone.
Reported by "Fox News" television channel and quoted from a medical source in the state: "This disease is often associated with working with quartz, which has grown in popularity in recent years due to its ease of use and beauty. <…> The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that a 40-year-old man who had worked in the stone kitchen surfaces industry for 14 years, was diagnosed with silicosis, a deadly life-threatening disease."
"Fox News" mentioned that the patient was involved in cutting, grinding, and polishing of kitchen surfaces. This work usually produces dust that consists of crystalline silica particles. The television channel indicated that inhaling this dust causes scarring of the lungs and the development of silicosis.
These complications can be prevented by following industrial safety and security procedures, but once a person contracts the disease, it becomes resistant to treatment. Symptoms include: persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and constant fatigue. The department added that as the disease worsens, it may lead to serious complications, including lung cancer, tuberculosis, and even death.
The department stressed the need to create suitable working conditions when dealing with kitchen surfaces, and confirmed that the development of the disease in the majority of cases is linked to professional activity.
Source: "Fox News"
