Silicosis is described by the U.S. Department of Labor as a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by overexposure to respirable Crystalline Silica (CS).  Airborne particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter are considered respirable or able to penetrate deeply into the lung.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined respirable crystalline silica to be a carcinogen. With these developments, industry has taken extensive measures to monitor for any potential worker silica exposure at their sites.

RJLG serves the following example industries who are interested in ongoing crystalline silica monitoring:

• Construction – sandblasting, rock drilling, masonry work, jack hammering, tunneling
• Mining – cutting or drilling through stone
• Foundry – grinding, molding, shakeout, core room
• Stone Cutting – sawing, abrasive blasting, chipping and grinding
• Glass Manufacturing – grinding and dust generation
• Agriculture – dust generation during processing
• Shipyards – abrasive blasting
• Railroads – setting and laying track
• Manufacturing – abrasives, paint pigments, fillers for plastics, soap and detergent
• Power Generation – ash produced

While we employ many types of analytical instrumentation, the majority of our crystalline silica analysis is performed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD).  Our laboratory handles both bulk materials and air filters.  Our expertise allows us to combine XRD, polarized light microscopy (PLM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses for a comprehensive bulk powder characterization.  In addition, methods such as computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) and Stoke’s settling techniques are utilized to separate bulk powder samples into respirable and non-respirable fractions to aid in quantification of respirable crystalline silica.

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RJLG is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) for crystalline silica analysis of air samples.