Goodpasture’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases have been reported in association with silica exposure. The acute onset following high level silica exposure in this previously healthy man, suggest that clinicians should investigate silica exposure as a causal factor in cases of Goodpasture’s syndrome.

Crystalline silica is recognized as both a pneumotoxin and nephrotoxin, and has been reported to cause multiple autoimmune diseases . As such, our case revealed severe target organ toxicity to the lungs, kidneys, and other target organ systems consistent with those reported in the literature.

A multitude of epidemiological studies connect silica exposure to various known autoimmune diseases . Frequently reported diseases include scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and sarcoidosis .

Several studies of silica-exposed workers have shown increased rates of several common autoimmune diseases, indicating that studies that examine rates of only one disease may underestimate the risks posed by silica exposure