Silicosis Collection

Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim) 1493-1541. Swiss-born German physician and alchemist. First to describe Silicosis. Connected Goitre with minerals in drinking water

Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim) 1493-1541. Swiss-born German physician and alchemist. First to describe Silicosis. Connected Goitre with minerals in drinking water

Lung silicosis, light micrograph C015 / 7129
Lung silicosis. Light micrograph of a section through a lung with silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis caused by exposure to silica dusts. The lung tissue has become fibrous (centre)

Lung silicosis, X-ray
Lung silicosis. Coloured X-ray of the lungs of a patient with silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis. The orange masses in the lungs are areas of fibrous (scarred) tissue and inflammation

Quarryman drilling, Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, North Wales
A quarryman drilling into the rock at Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire (now Gwynedd), North Wales

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Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim) once said, 'The dose makes the poison.' However, when it comes to silica dust, even small doses can lead to a deadly consequence: silicosis. This chronic lung disease, characterized by scarring and fibrosis, is caused by prolonged exposure to silica particles. As seen in these images of a lung affected by silicosis (C015 / 7129), the damage is irreversible. The X-rays (top and bottom) reveal telltale signs of the disease, such as small opacities and fibrotic shadows. The quarryman drilling at Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry in North Wales (pictured) is just one occupation where workers are at risk of inhaling harmful silica dust. Paracelsus, the Swiss-born German physician and alchemist, may have been known for his unconventional methods, but he would surely recognize the danger posed by this ubiquitous mineral.