Silica shows up in materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar and is used to make artificial stone, bricks, ceramics, glass, and pottery.

Respirable crystalline silica, or very small particles of silica, is a health hazard that shows up in a wide swath of industries. Workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica poses a risk for several serious silica-related diseases, including:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),

Kidney disease,

Lung cancer, and

Silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death.