Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen. Additionally, breathing crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which in severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal.  The respirable silica dust enters the lungs and causes the formation of scar tissue, thus reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. There is no cure for silicosis. Since silicosis affects lung function, it makes one more susceptible to lung infections like tuberculosis. In addition, smoking causes lung damage and adds to the damage caused by breathing silica dust.

The dust created by transloading or disturbing these materials can contain crystalline silica particles.  These dust particles are very small. You cannot see them. This respirable silica dust causes lung disease and lung cancer. It only takes a very small amount of airborne silica dust to create a health hazard.

The City of North Branch needs to be aware of the hazard that silica dust poses. The City Council has not  taken action to ensure that residents in the City/County are properly protected from exposure to silica. 

We are demanding the City of North Branch pay for medical monitoring for any/all City/County residents who are exposed to silica dust.  

Recommended medical tests include: 

• A medical exam that focuses on the respiratory system and includes a medical history. 

• A chest X-ray, evaluated by a qualified professional as described in OSHA Directive CPL 03-00-007.

We are demanding that these tests be repeated every three years if the resident has less than 15 years of silica exposure, every two years if the resident has 15 to 20 years of exposure, and every year if the resident has 20 or more years of exposure.

We, the undersigned residents of Chisago County, are providing the City of North Branch with advance notice of legal action.  This applies to any/all health related personal injury, legal fees, financial costs, and potential punitive damages sought by residents impacted by approval of the City of North Branch, Silica Sand Transloading Facility.    

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What are the symptoms of silicosis?  Silicosis is classified into three types: chronic/classic, accelerated, and acute.

Chronic/classic silicosis, the most common type, occurs after 10-20 years of moderate to low exposures to respirable crystalline silica. Symptoms associated with chronic silicosis may or may not be obvious; therefore, you need to have a chest X-ray to determine if there is lung damage. As the disease progresses, you may experience shortness of breath when exercising and have clinical signs of poor oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. In the later stages, you may experience fatigue, extreme shortness of breath, cough, and, in some cases, respiratory failure.

Accelerated silicosis can occur after 5-10 years of high exposures to respirable crystalline silica. It is similar to chronic silicosis, but progresses more rapidly.  

Acute silicosis occurs after only a few months or a few years following exposures to extremely high levels of respirable crystalline silica. Symptoms of acute silicosis include rapidly progressive and severe shortness of breath, weakness, and weight loss. Though much less common than other forms of silicosis, acute silicosis nearly always leads to disability and death.

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