Silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay and in products such as bricks, concrete, mortar and manufactured stone products including synthetic stone. These materials create dust when they are cut, sanded down and crushed. Some of this dust may be fine enough to reach deep inside the lung which is known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Significant exposure to RCS can lead to ill-health conditions including silicosis and lung cancer.
