Chalicosis

CHALICOSIS, chalicosis (from Greek chalix - lime stone), the most important variety of pneumoconiosis, arising from prolonged inhalation of dust containing compounds of silicon (SiO₂); hence the synonym X.-silicosis. Chalicosis is a professional disease of workers, especially stonecutters, grinders (e.g., in glass, diamond production), as well as in cement, pottery production, in mining, especially in work related to inhalation of quartz, limestone spar, etc. Chalicosis is characterized by significant sclerotic changes in the lungs; the latter turn into meaty-stony formations, difficult to cut with a knife. The amount of silica in the ash of such lungs rises to 50% instead of 5-10% in normal lungs. Along with diffuse changes, focal changes are also noted, small stony density nodules-scars appear, in the center of which a dust core is found. Occasionally, similar nodules are found in other organs, e.g., in the spleen, which indicates the possibility of hematogenous transport of silicon salts along with the more frequent lymphogenous transport to the mediastinal glands. Varieties of X. include aluminoses, asbestoses. Clinic, professional-pathological aspects, complications of X.-see Pneumoconioses.