Emergency Silicosis Appeal
Lung Disease

Emergency Silicosis Appeal

Advance our lifesaving research into silicosis.

This is unprecedented. We’ve launched an Emergency Silicosis Appeal because we need your help to tackle an escalating health crisis.

Silicosis is a deadly lung disease, described as the worst industrial health crisis since asbestosis. It mainly affects stonemasons, who inhale toxic silica dust while cutting engineered stone products like kitchen benchtops. The silica dust settles in their lungs and stops their lungs from working.

Silicosis cannot be cured or treated, and it’s often fatal. Hundreds to thousands of stonemasons are at risk of this deadly disease. Since last year, over 100 have been diagnosed in Queensland alone. In March, one man died from silicosis, aged just 36.

Please will you give a gift to advance our urgent research into a treatment for silicosis, so young workers in the prime of their lives – no longer face a death sentence?

Through the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, our researchers are hopeful that they’ve found a way to treat silicosis. It’s called Whole Lung Lavage and it involves washing the toxic silica dust out of the lungs with 25 litres of warm saline solution.

“It’s like taking a nail out your foot,” says lead researcher Professor Dan Chambers. “If you’ve stepped on a nail, you can’t deal with the problem unless you remove the nail. This treatment works on the same principle: it removes the toxic silica dust that’s damaging the lungs.”

“We firmly believe that silicosis doesn’t have to be a death sentence. We’re confident that we have found a transformational treatment and we can solve the problem quickly, with some help. We need research funds.”

Professor Chambers and his team need $103,500 to move forward with their pioneering research and test their potentially lifesaving treatment. With more and more workers being diagnosed with silicosis every day, we need to tackle this health emergency now. Please will you help?

Give a gift now to advance our research into a treatment for silicosis. You could prevent this deadly disease from taking the lives of young workers. Thank you.

Support The Common Good here.

Published: July 24, 2019

Related news & events

Dozens cycle for transplant research at 2025 Cycle of Giving

The Common Good

Dozens cycle for transplant research at 2025 Cycle of Giving

The Cycle of Giving has returned to the Sunshine Coast in 2025, with dozens of riders pedalling for vital transplant research.

Find out more

Collaborative Seed Grants at The Prince Charles Hospital

Research Grants

Collaborative Seed Grants at The Prince Charles Hospital

If you’re waiting for the Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer to hit your lips, we’ve got good news! The creation for a good cause is back in 2023, and brewing is…

Find out more

Stone & Wood’s Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer is back in 2025

Uncategorised

Stone & Wood’s Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer is back in 2025

If you’re waiting for the Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer to hit your lips, we’ve got good news! The creation for a good cause is back in 2023, and brewing is…

Find out more

Acknowledging our Corporate Volunteers this National Volunteer Week

Volunteering

Acknowledging our Corporate Volunteers this National Volunteer Week

This National Volunteer Week, we want to say a big thank you to our corporate volunteers who answer our call for help.

Find out more

National Volunteer Week Australia 2025: 'Connecting Communities'

Volunteering

National Volunteer Week Australia 2025: 'Connecting Communities'

National Volunteer Week 2025: Meet the incredible people who give their time and skills through The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.

Find out more

It's Heart Week: Let’s Talk About the Health of Your Heart

Heart Disease

It's Heart Week: Let’s Talk About the Health of Your Heart

Discover how The Common Good is supporting world-leading heart health research at The Prince Charles Hospital this Heart Week.

Find out more

Chain Reaction Challenge 2025: Helping sick kids in Queensland

The Common Good

Chain Reaction Challenge 2025: Helping sick kids in Queensland

Cyclists ride 1000km in the Chain Reaction Challenge 2025 to fund Child Life Therapy program for sick kids at The Prince Charles Hospital.

Find out more

Over $70,000 Raised for Transplant Research Through 2025 Tour de Brisbane

Tour De Brisbane

Over $70,000 Raised for Transplant Research Through 2025 Tour de Brisbane

This year’s Tour de Brisbane, sponsored by Transurban, has made a significant impact for transplant research with over $70,000 raised in 2025

Find out more

Children’s Retreat Space at The Prince Charles Hospital Revamped

The Common Good

Children’s Retreat Space at The Prince Charles Hospital Revamped

The Children’s retreat space in The Prince Charles Hospital’s paediatric ward, brings smiles and laughter to sick and injured kids.

Find out more