Doctors show washing out silicosis sufferers’ lungs halts disease

“We’re seeing significant improvements in the scans of their lungs, so that’s really encouraging, and it’s a major milestone to see that,” Dr Chambers said.

“The real thing we want to see is improvements in long-term outcomes, and we anticipate those dramatic improvements in the scans indicating that, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Silicosis is a degenerative lung disease caused by the build-up of silica dust in the lungs, which causes progressive scarring that eventually leaves the lungs unable to function.

The new technique is not a cure for silicosis, as it will not reverse the severe scarring of the lungs that affects people with the advanced form of the disease. However, it acts as a preventative treatment by removing the silica dust, meaning a diagnosis of silicosis no longer guarantees a progressive decline in lung function.

“It’s been really gratifying for us to see these young guys who are really thankful that there’s been someone there willing to work and help them,” Dr Chambers said.

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“Otherwise what they faced was losing their job and being given a diagnosis of a fatal lung condition in one hit.”

Rates of silicosis exploded in recent years with the introduction to Australia of cheap engineered stone, which can be more than 90 per cent silica.

The substitute for marble and sandstone has a range of uses, from commercial buildings to home bathroom and kitchen renovations.

One in five stonemasons in Queensland alone have now been diagnosed with silicosis.

“The important thing to remember here is that this is a completely preventable disease that does not occur if someone is wearing appropriate protection, uses wet cutting, and has adequate dust-disposal measures,” Dr Chambers said.

“There’s been a good change in the way the industry is conducting itself, but we’re conscious there are still hundreds, if not thousands, of young men who may need our help, so that’s why we developed a treatment as well.”

Dr Chambers said the lavage technique was not appropriate for use in other lung diseases, such as black lung or asbestosis.

He said the research and treatment being done at Prince Charles Hospital was being directly supported by The Common Good, a non-profit group set up to fund medical research by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.