Silicosis on New York Watch List

NEW YORK – The trail of silicosis victim in fabrication now goes through the nation’s largest city.

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a health advisory on Sept. 3 to watch for patients with the lung disease, with an emphasis on those working with engineered stone.

In the advisory, NYC Chief Medical Officer Toni Eyssallenne noted that at least seven suspected engineered-stone-related silicosis cases have been identified in the state of New York, including a recent death in the city.

The advisory asks medical staff in the city to “consider silicosis in the differential diagnosis of people with an occupational history of construction, mining, or blasting, especially if they work with engineered stone.”

The advisory also sets clinical guidelines in diagnosing possible silicosis patients, and to “collect and document an occupational history, including, if relevant, the use of protective equipment in these individuals.”

Clinical staff, the advisory continued, should also emphasize that “employees have equal rights to workers’ compensation benefits and medical care in New York State, regardless of immigration status,” and also stress that cases are confidential.

People who fit an initial diagnosis of silicosis should also be referred to a state Occupational Health Clinic, and reports need to be filed with the state’s Occupational Lung Disease Registry within 10 days of examination.

“Documenting a comprehensive occupational history,” Dr. Eyssallenne noted in the advisory, “is the first, most important step in identifying and caring for people with this illness.”

The advisory is directed to medical staff in the city involved with pulmonology, radiology, critical care, primary care, urgent care, emergency medicine, occupational medicine, and transplant medicine.