Comprehensive Clinical Update on Silicosis: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention—Incorporating 2024 Guidelines and Evidence
1. Background & Epidemiology Crystalline silica (SiO₂), predominantly in the forms of quartz, tridymite, and * cristobalite*, is a ubiquitous mineral in the Earth’s crust and a key component of rocks, sand, concrete, brick, stone, and engineered/composite countertops. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS)—particles <10 µm in aerodynamic diameter, with optimal deposition in the alveoli at 1–3…
