Washing out diseased lungs may help tradies with artificial stone benchtop-related disease

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-02-25 05:00

Australia; QLD

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Australian scientists used a technique called whole lung lavage, which involves washing out the lungs, on six patients affected by artificial stone-associated silicosis, and say lung scans after the procedure suggested the technique may help those in the early stages of the disease. But further research is required to confirm whether this will translate into health benefits and improved survival. The disease has re-emerged in Australia and other wealthy countries because the tradies who make artificial stone benchtops can be exposed to high levels of silica dust that damages their lungs, and they are not always suitably protected from breathing the dust in. This form of silicosis is highly aggressive, and it develops faster and is more likely to kill patients than silicosis caused by mining, the experts say.