PGM mining and silicosis?

Silicosis is a chronic, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years. Silica occurs naturally in certain types of rock. In South Africa, silica is found in high levels in gold-bearing ore bodies, while it is only present at much lower concentrations in PGM ore bodies.

The South Africa Minerals Council publishes data on silicosis incidence for the various categories of mining in the country. The vast majority of cases are in gold mining, but a smaller number of cases are listed for PGM mining. These are individuals that were working in PGM mining at the time they were diagnosed with silicosis.

IPA’s South African member companies have confirmed that their industrial hygiene monitoring programs show there is only very low exposure to silica within their mines and that when there are cases of silicosis diagnosed amongst their workforce, they are invariably in workers that have previously worked in gold mining. All evidence, therefore, supports the firm belief that there is no risk of silicosis from PGM mining in South Africa.