It is estimated that more than two million workers in the United States are exposed to crystalline silica each year, while an estimated 100,000 are at high risk of developing silicosis, an incurable and irreversible lung disease known to cause lung cancer, bronchitis, tuberculosis, scleroderma and renal disease.

As OSHA considers a rule change that would lower the permissible exposure limit, or PEL, of respirable crystalline silica from 100 micrograms to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour day, you might be considering what all that techno-babble means to you.

iQ Power Tools, manufacturers of masonry saws and drills with dust-eliminating technology, has released a multi-part informational series that helps translate the various components of this conundrum. Here is a summary.

First and foremost are the reasons that this should concern you. The biggest is the threat to your health. Exposure to silica can cause silicosis, an incurable and irreversible lung disease known to cause lung cancer, bronchitis, tuberculosis, scleroderma and renal disease. And if you are a business owner, besides caring about the health of your workers, you also need to take into account the possible fines you could receive for failing to meet the rules.

The OSHA rule in question regulates how much dust a worker is legally allowed to breath over an eight-hour period. The PEL is determined by three factors: how much air a person breathes, how much dust is in the air and time, or the length of the exposure.

To better define these factors, the authors of the series relied on scientific studies to determine that the amount of air an average adult male working at a moderate activity level breathes over the course of an 8-hour work day is 16.8 cubic meters.

Through specific calculations of measured amounts of dust created when cutting pavers and the percentage of silica in dust, the authors found that 9 million micrograms of respirable crystalline silica can be released into the environment in one paver cut 2.36 inches deep, .125 inches wide, and 4 inches long. When comparing this amount to OSHA'a PEL, the 9 million micrograms equals 5,346 days worth of permissible exposure limits.

This certainly highlights the need for protective breathing equipment and dust reducing measures.

The informational series can be found here.