Interstitial Fibrosis Among Farmworkers Due to Agricultural Dust
A series of lungs from California farm workers who died in accidents or from illness were examined for evidence of pneumoconiosis. Despite being young these Hispanic farm workers had significantly more evidence of interstitial fibrosis than did non-farm workers. A variety of analytical techniques demonstrated that those with pneumoconiosis had significant exposure to crystalline silica and aluminum silicate.
The article is "Pneumoconiosis from agricultural dust exposure among young California farmworkers". As for the source of mineral dust exposure the authors note "most agricultural soils are composed largely of silicate materials (e.g., feldspars, mica, clay minerals) and crystalline silica (CSi) (quartz)".
