Stone crushing worker dies from silicosis
A man who used to work at several limestone grinding factories in Lalmonirhat died yesterday from silicosis, a common occupational lung-disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust.
The dead is Nuruzzaman Miah, 35, son of Seraz Uddin of Bamondal village under Patgram upazila. He had been working at the factories at Burimari Land Port for nearly three years.
After being diagnosed with the disease, the man was admitted to National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) in the capital early this month.
He was released from the hospital 15 days after his admission, as doctors said he had little chances of recovery.
With Nur, more than 40 limestone grinding factory workers died from silicosis in the last four years, said Momin Ali, joint secretary of Sanjukta Sramik Federation, a trade union federation at the port.
He said over a thousand limestone factory workers have been risking their lives with direct exposure to silica dust, as they have no other means of making a living in the port area.
Hasmot Ali, one of the workers, said many of his co-workers with breathing difficulties cannot afford the cost of the treatment.
“We know the consequences, but we are not left with any other options,” he said.
Silica is the main element of sand, and an intense inhalation of silica dust can cause silicosis in a few years or even months, depending on the lung condition of the patient, said Mostafa Kamal, civil surgeon of the district.
As the limestone crushing factories produce volumes of silica dust, workers of 26 factories at Burimari often contract silicosis and complain of breathing difficulties, the doctor added.
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