http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Immediate concerted efforts are needed to recognise and control exposure to silica hazards worldwide as the incurable and potentially fatal lung disease silicosis remains a major cause of illness and death around the world, concludes a Seminar published Online First in The Lancet. The paper calls for improved environmental controls and safety practices to help reduce the risk of acquiring this preventable disease, especially in developing countries. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-effort-exposure-silica-hazards-silicosis.html Health Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:30:02 EST news254401641 Industrial workers who have been chronically exposed to silica dust are at substantially higher risk of death from all causes than workers who have not been exposed. Furthermore, the risk of death, especially from lung and cardiovascular diseases increases with increasing exposure, according to a study from Chinese researchers published in this week's PLoS Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-long-term-exposure-silica-death-industrial.html Health Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:13 EST news253891148