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). 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 monitors time weighted average of total dust, respirable dust, and crystalline silica (alpha-quartz) concentration in workers' breathing zone by using both gravimetric and XRD methods.  RJLG currently performs such analyses for much of the quarry industry.

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

• Construction – sandblasting, rock drilling, masonry work, jack hammering, tunneling
• Mining – cutting or drilling through sandstone and granite
• 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 (RJLG is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) for CS analysis of air samples)

Our analytical methods include X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for NIOSH Method 7500 for respirable CS and 7501 for respirable amorphous free silica on air filters. Our XRD 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. Computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) yields particulate composition and size distribution and is excellent for bulk powder samples that must be fractioned into respirable and non-respirable particles.