Marek Marzec (48 years old) is being cared for in the last days of his life at a hospital in London (UK) after being diagnosed with silicon dust in April 2024.

Marek said he spent 12 years in London and Hertfordshire to cut artificial stones, complaining about bad working conditions.He said that he himself was only one of many workers who were diagnosed with this serious disease after a long time of inhaling toxic dust when cutting the table with quartz or artificial stone for many years.

A recent study found that stone miners suffering from acute silicon dust can cause serious shortness of breath and lung transplantation is the only treatment.However, Marek was too weak to be able to undergo such surgery.

Marek said he had suffered a "terrible pain" and could not breathe only by work.

"I came to him in the hope of building a better life and wanted to ensure that my little daughters were financially safe.Losing the ability to breathe and suffer terrible pain, "he said," My life was shortened by my work.. "

What is silicon pulmonary disease?

Silicon dust is a chronic lung disease due to the large amount of crystal silicon dust, usually lasting for many years.When inside the lungs, it causes swelling (inflammation) and gradually leads to hard lung tissue areas, scarred (fibrosis) and cannot function normally.

Those who work in the following industries have a special risk:

- Construction of stone and cutting stone - Especially with sandstone

- Construction and demolition - Due to contact with concrete and flooring materials

- Producing and installing desks, kitchen tables

- Producing pottery, porcelain and glass

- Quarry

Symptoms of silicon dust often takes many years to appear and patients may not notice any problems.Symptoms can continue to get worse even if the patient is no longer in contact with the pathogen.

The main symptoms of silicon dust is: cough with phlegm and difficult breathing, chest tightness, prolonged fatigue.

Prevention measures

Workers who are constantly exposed to mineral dust always use protective equipment such as clothes, eyeglasses, dust masks in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

In particular, people who often work in factories, construction site contain silicon dust needed:

- Wear a mask and wear protective clothes while working.

- Use a wet method to cut, cherish or sharpen materials.

- Wash and change clothes after work.

- Do not eat or drink in or near the silicon dust container.

- Wash your hands and face before eating.

For those who do not work in a silicon dust -containing environment, to prevent the disease, it is necessary to do it:

- Maintain weight with a healthy, balanced diet.

- Move as much as possible by exercising regularly, but do not exertion.

- Avoid asbestos contact at home: If you own an old house, it will be very dangerous because the asbestos in your home devices is not safe, which can cause severe dura.

- Absolutely do not smoke and contact with smoke.

Source: The Sun