Historical aspects of industrial hygiene--II. Silicosis.

The extension of knowledge about silicosis, one of civilization's oldest known occupational diseases, is traced from antiquity to the twentieth century. In the past, silicosis was widely misunderstood and inadequately defined. As silicosis became widespread and concomitant with industrial and technological growth and as the numbers of workers at risk increased, new interest generated new information, and new concepts of control and prevention. Today, although we possess the significant medical and technical knowledge to prevent silicosis, there has been a failure to eradicate the disease.