Sandblasting jeans is a common way to give blue jean a “ hard-pressed ” look , with worn point and trickily frayed holes . But the process of sandblasting is follow under fire due to its connection with silicosis , an incurable lung disease .
Several fabrication and retail outlets are banning sandblasted jeans , but why ? Let ’s take a look at a silicosis , occupational practices leading to the disease , and its symptoms .
Silicosis , a study related disease

Silicosis in an occupational lung disease , one hit from prolonged exposure to small particles of silica find in sand or quartz .
Exposurecomes through regular use of goods and services of pneumatic practice , Oliver Stone cutting , glass manufacturing , and , in a late app , give blue jean an intentionally distressed feel though 60 minutes sandblasting .
The symptoms of silicosis include gruffness of breathing space , tenacious cough , weight loss , crack up nail layer , and , in some cases , a flimsy blue discolouration of the skin . A Turkish physician noted the coefficient of correlation between sandblasting denim and silicosis in a2004publication , beginning a movement to convert New sandblasting practice .

When small-scale atom of silica are inhaled , they sediment in the base of the lung and often calcify . Lack of ventilating system and personal shelter ( worker often fag out only a disposable newspaper masquerade party like the one above ) combined with long exposure period conduce to silicosis .
Most jeans - related sandblasting surgical process take place in inadequate areas , confinement to a small three by two foot domain and long work weeks ( 65 - 70 hours ) , with most workers using only a disposable mouth and nose mask as protective covering . The silica get out a fine layers on the torso and hair as well , pose an exposure problem even after the individual leaves work .
The ancient Rome link

Silicosis is not a novel disease , as theRomansrecognized that respiratory trouble companion mining employment . Silicosis came to the forefront in the 1930s due to theHawks Nestincident in the United States .
Between400and 1,000 of the 3,000 total worker go bad from ramification of silicosis after using pneumatic drills and explosive to bore a burrow for hydroelectric use in West Virginia .
Thanks to increase watchfulness and employee auspices equipment , forward-looking mining - have-to doe with silicosis cases are practically non - existent in the United States . Strangely , silicosis is on the rise for dental technician , with four silicosis related deaths occurring in Turkey during2011 .

Silicosis is Incurable
There isno curefor silicosis , but only a few mean of symptom relief , as there is no way to remove the silica deposits from the lungs . government of antibiotic drug can alleviate bacterial infections accompanying silicosis andbonchoalveolar lavagecan loosen deposits in the lung . After contracting silicosis , one out of three individualsdieswithin five years .
50 Recent deaths in Turkey

Although Turkeybannedthe praxis of sandblast jeans in 2009 , over 4,000 people within the country are afflicted with silicosis and a 50th citizen died from the lung disease in February of 2012 .
The pattern is still common inBangladesh , India , and China . As many as25,000people dice from silicosis and its complication in China each year .
Several designers and retail outlets ( Target , Gap , Wal - Mart , Levi , Versace , H & M ) are join together to ban the practice in position of safer practices like physicallyscrapingthe jeans to give a distressed look . Dolce & Gabbanais one of the few major decorator still using sandblasting to make up jeans .

Top image byAllison Joyceat Mother Jones . Images courtesy ofEcouterre , DKNY , and the AP . Sources linked within the article .
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