Case series analysis of eight underground tunnellers with chronic silicosis in Queensland

Within Australia, chronic silicosis has been long thought of as being a well-controlled occupational lung disease. While recent cases of acute silicosis in artificial stone benchtop cutters have emerged, chronic silicosis within the general workforce population has not been recorded. Our case series describes the re-emergence of chronic silicosis amongst workers within the tunnelling industry representing the potential for a more widespread insidious occupational lung disease. While undertaking pre-employment medicals, eight tunnellers have been diagnosed with chronic silicosis. These eight tunnellers had a minimum of 10 years of cumulative dust exposure prior to diagnosis. Diagnosis was made by radiological evaluation of chest X-rays and computerized tomography scans by International Labour Organization B Readers. The re-emergence of chronic pneumoconiosis as illustrated by this case series suggests the presence of undiagnosed occupational lung disease with far reaching implications for workers, employers, compensation systems, and the public healthcare sectors.