Silicosis Sample Clauses

Silicosis. Respirable crystalline silica (quartz) can cause silicosis, a fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs. Silicosis may be progressive; it may lead to disability and death.

Silicosis. The major concern is silicosis, caused by the inhalation and retention of respirable crystalline silica dust. Silicosis can exist in several forms, chronic (or ordinary), accelerated, or acute. Chronic or Ordinary Silicosis (often referred to as Simple Silicosis) is the most common form of silicosis, and can occur after many years of exposure to relatively low levels of airborne respirable crystalline silica dust. It is further defined as either simple or complicated silicosis. Simple silicosis is characterized by lung lesions (shown as radiographic opacities) less than 1 centimeter in diameter, primarily in the upper lung zones. Often, simple silicosis is not associated with symptoms, detectable changes in lung function or disability. Simple silicosis may be progressive and may develop into complicated silicosis or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Complicated silicosis or PMF is characterized by lung lesions (shown as radiographic opacities) greater than 1 centimeter in diameter. Although there may be no symptoms associated with complicated silicosis or PMF, the symptoms, if present, are shortness of breath, wheezing, cough and sputum production. Complicated silicosis or PMF may be associated with decreased lung function and may be disabling. Advanced complicated silicosis or PMF may lead to death. Advanced complicated silicosis or PMF can result in heart disease secondary to the lung disease (cor pumonale). Accelerated Silicosis can occur with exposure to high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica over a relatively short period; the lung lesions can appear within five (5) years of initial exposure. Progression can be rapid. Accelerated silicosis is similar to chronic or ordinary silicosis, except that lung lesions appear earlier and progression is more rapid. Acute Silicosis can occur with exposures to very high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica over a very short time period, sometimes as short as a few months. The symptoms of acute silicosis include progressive shortness of breath, fever, cough and weight loss. Acute silicosis is fatal.

Silicosis. In the most recent chest x-rays performed on the employees --------- of the Acquired Companies pursuant to the Acquired Companies' medical surveillance program, no employee of the Acquired Companies (i) had a chest x- ray read by a NIOSH certified "B" reader as a profusion of greater than or equal to 1/0, or (ii) was diagnosed with silicosis.