Up to 40 trucks up to date cross the urban nucleus, dusting, pass by the institutes, of the outdoor pool, from the square where coffee is taken, ”says Rodrigo Iglesias, a neighbor of the Catalan town of Dosrius. A few days ago, as a member of the Platform for the Defense of the Environment and the Health of Dosrius, it left with other inhabitants of the municipality to demonstrate asking The end of the extractive granite activity. They regret the explosions, the closeness of the quarry to the people – some houses are only 150 meters – and the danger of the suspension silica dust. «Up to 500,000 tons of granite are worked every year and in all its processes, from extraction to transport particles are emitted. This is the air we breathe every day because the facilities have no walls or roof and nothing stops the dust. When you go to the doctor with respiratory problems, COPD, asthma, skin problems, view nobody asks if you have a quarry nearby, but it is not a novelty that this dust causes cancer and disease such as silicosis. If it already exists as a business disease, why then, there is no consideration in the medical records of the neighbors given the proximity of the extractive? Some of us reside here for more than 25 years, ”he laments churches.
Already in the past, the inhabitants of Dosrius managed to stop a asphalt factory project; Now they ask for the cessation of an activity that, they consider, is done without the necessary security measures, without water that helps to cake the silica so that it does not be dispent during the transport or without effective measures on what is really being issued, etc. . And that, in addition, it extends in time and space. Silicon represents 25% of the earth’s cortex and quartz (which is the most common polymorph of crystalline silica) represents 12%. The problem of this mineral occurs when the granulometry is less than 0.5 microns. These particles are not seen or smelled, but they sneak into the pulmonary alveoli causing various pathologies. The best known: silicosis (although not the only one, WHO considers her carcinogenic and can cause damage to kidneys or diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus).
This typical disease of the miners of yesteryear, is considered occupational disease since 1930. The National Silicosis Institute (INS) has been studying since its creation in the 70s the impact of silicosis on people in the workplace because «many industrial activities have to See with this dust. That is why the risks of silica have been associated with activities where that material is manipulated, it is extracted, perforated … or where there is earth movement such as the construction sector, but it is also associated with fracking or the process of worn out The jeans that are carried out using sand jets, ”explains Alfredo Menéndez, professor of the Department of Pathological Anatomy and History of Science of the University of Granada.
Epidemic
The surprising thing is that the last years, despite the fact that the traditional mining activated has lowered, the parties due to illness are increasing. In 2024, the Cepross’s occupational disease system quantified more than 500 parts of disease related to silicosis cases. In addition, according to the association of harmed by the Silicosis of Andalusia (APSA), it has already become the first cause of employment disease in that CC AA. The three regions with the highest incidence of pathologies associated with crystalline silica are Galicia, Castilla y León (Pizarra work areas, for example) and Andalusia. Behind this increase: quartz agglomerates. These materials are used to manufacture, for example, countertops and have been replacing natural stones since their appearance in the 90s, due to their low cost since they allow more variety of colors and designs. «Cutting activity, carved and stone finish represents 49% of the total cases of silicosis. From 2020 there are more parts, especially among young people of up to 40 years who have been working for 8-10 years. The natural stone has been replaced, with the difference that The concentration of silica in granite is around 20%, on the board 30%, but when we talk about these agglomerates, the figures rise to 90%. In marmolerías it has worked for a long time the same as natural stone when it is not the same and needs other precautions, ”says Francisco Torrico, president of APSA.
Concern about the increase in cases of silicosis has led to the emergence of the report “The remergency of silicosis in Spain” published by the Ministry of Health in 2024, a text that states that “the evolution of the number of parts by silicosis has evidenced the substantial Increase experienced in our country, to reach an average of 404.2 annual parties between 2015-2019, A growth of 1,423.2% compared to 1990-1994 »This new epidemic has caused reactions such as Australia that prohibited the use of quartz agglomerates in 2023 or that of the United Kingdom or Spain where you study what measures to take. «Within the National Commission for Labor Safety and Health, a working group has been created to implement new security measures because EPIS are not enough. As of 2010, manufacturers began to take the subject seriously, but inspections and isolation are missing. In dust areas, water must also be used to decant and retire, ”says Torrico.
The Ministry’s report is considered the first step, to know exactly the situation. Torrico considers that there are hidden cases and that the number of affected will continue to grow in the coming years. «The workers since the end of the 90s have not had good security. In addition, the data of the different organisms differ. At Andalusia level, Cepross speaks of 105 cases and the Andalusian Health Service of up to 1,200. What is the real figure? Some cases are detected through public health and others by mutuals but no data is crossed. Possibly the number out of multiply by three Cepross data, ”he says.
Australia and quartz agglomerates
Australia became 2023 in the first country in the world to ban quartz agglomerates. «Interested sectors and scientists participated and tells us that reducing the Silice content is not the solution. LOSS AGLOMERATES DE AMARZO with less than 40% silica can transmit the feeling that it is a safe product, but there is no scientific evidence that it is. But it is also talk about the cocktail effect. These materials also contain polymers, metals in their pigments that determine that diseases occur despite the security measures adopted, ”explains Alfredo Menéndez de la UGR.