FREQUENCY OF SILICOSIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DUST AND PULMONARY FUNCTIONS TESTS IN STONE CRUSHING INDUSTRIES WORKERS IN PESHAWAR

ABSTRACT
Background: Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of respirable crystalline silica
and pulmonary reaction to it. Its true prevalence is underestimated as during its initial phase the patient is symptom
free. It is the commonest occupational lung disease all over the world but it is more frequent in developing countries,
including Pakistan, where safe work practice among the workers is poor. Silicosis is a disease with typical radiographic
pattern. According to the intensity of exposures and onset of initiation of clinical symptoms silicosis is classified into
three groups of simple, advanced and complicated forms. The present study evaluated silicosis and pulmonary functions
tests among stone crushing workers.
Objectives: To examine the frequency o