Silicosis MCQs with Answer PYQs

Previous-Year Silicosis MCQs
NEET │ AIIMS │ JIPMER │ FMGE │ Nursing │ UPSC CMS │ GATE │ State PSCs | CSIR-NET and Other Exams

NEET PG 2024

The occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust is:

1. Asbestosis
2. Silicosis
3. Byssinosis
4. Bagassosis

Answer & Explanation

B. Silicosis

NEET 2020 Phase-2 & NEET 2023

Which form of silica is most responsible for causing silicosis?

1. Amorphous silica
2. Crystalline silica
3. Colloidal silica
4. Fumed silica

Answer & Explanation

B. Crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite). Amorphous silica is relatively non-fibrogenic.

AIIMS May 2022

Acute silicosis (silicoproteinosis) is seen after:

1. Chronic low-dose exposure
2. Intense exposure for a few months to 2 years
3. Exposure >20 years
4. Only in smokers

Answer & Explanation

B. Intense exposure for a few months to ≤2 years (e.g., sandblasting, tunnelling without controls).

FMGE Dec 2021

Classic radiographic finding in chronic silicosis is:

1. Egg-shell calcification of hilar nodes
2. Pleural plaques
3. Lower zone fibrosis
4. Cavitation

Answer & Explanation

A. Egg-shell calcification of hilar lymph nodes is highly characteristic of silicosis.

JIPMER 2019

Silicosis increases the risk of which infection the most?

1. Pneumococcal pneumonia
2. Tuberculosis
3. Legionella
4. Viral pneumonia

Answer & Explanation

B. Tuberculosis (silico-tuberculosis). Silica impairs macrophage function → very high risk of TB reactivation.

AIIMS 2019

Which of the following occupational diseases is caused by crystalline silica dust?

1. Silicosis
2. Anthracosis
3. Siderosis
4. Berylliosis

Answer & Explanation

A – Silicosis (Anthracosis = coal dust, Siderosis = iron oxide, Berylliosis = beryllium)

NEET PG 2023

Most effective method to prevent silicosis in stone-cutting workers is:

1. Use of N95 mask
2. Wet cutting and local exhaust ventilation
3. Annual chest X-ray
4. Anti-TB prophylaxis

Answer & Explanation

B. Wet cutting + LEV (engineering controls) are far superior to masks alone.

UPSC CMS 2022

Which of the following jobs has the highest risk of silicosis in 2025?

1. Glass manufacturing
2. Engineered stone benchtop fabrication
3. Cement factory
4. Coal mining

Answer & Explanation

B. Engineered/artificial stone cutting (can contain >90 % crystalline silica) – now the leading cause worldwide.

GATE 2021 (XL – Life Sciences)

Respirable crystalline silica primarily causes which type of lung pathology?

1. Nodular fibrosis
2. Emphysema
3. Bronchiectasis
4. Interstitial pneumonia

Answer & Explanation

A. Nodular fibrosis → silicotic nodules → progressive massive fibrosis.

Nursing Officer Recruitment (RRB/AIIMS) 2023

Silicosis is classified as:

1. Infectious disease
2. Pneumoconiosis
3. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
4. Occupational asthma

Answer & Explanation

B. Pneumoconiosis (dust-related lung fibrosis).

NEET PG 2020

Which polymorph of silica is most fibrogenic?

1. Quartz
2. Amorphous silica
3. Stishovite
4. Coesite

Answer & Explanation

A. Quartz is the most common and most fibrogenic form encountered in workplaces.

CSIR-UGC NET Chemical Sciences June 2019

The disease caused by inhalation of fine particles of crystalline silica dust is known as

1. Byssinosis
2. Silicosis
3. Asbestosis
4. Bagassosis

Answer & Explanation

B – Silicosis Classic occupational lung disease due to respirable crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite). Byssinosis = cotton dust, Asbestosis = asbestos, Bagassosis = sugarcane dust.

NEET PG 2025 Expected / INI-CET 2024

The pathognomonic histopathological finding in silicosis is:

1. Non-caseating granuloma
2. Ferruginous bodies
3. Concentric hyalinised nodules with birefringent silica particles
4. Caseating granuloma

Answer & Explanation

C – Silicotic nodule: whorled hyalinised collagen with central silica particles showing weak birefringence under polarised light.

AIIMS November 2023

Which statement is FALSE regarding silicosis?

1. It is a notifiable occupational disease in India
2. Amorphous silica causes severe silicosis
3. Silicosis patients are at increased risk of lung cancer
4. Egg-shell calcification of hilar nodes is characteristic

Answer & Explanation

B is FALSE – Amorphous silica is relatively harmless and does not cause classic silicosis.

FMGE June 2024

Most sensitive investigation for early detection of silicosis is:

1. Chest X-ray
2. High-resolution CT (HRCT) thorax
3. Spirometry
4. Sputum AFB

Answer & Explanation

B – HRCT thorax detects small nodules and early changes much earlier than conventional chest X-ray.

JIPMER PG 2023

Progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in silicosis is defined radiologically as:

1. Opacities <1 cm
2. Opacities >1 cm in diameter
3. Pleural thickening only
4. Cavitation

Answer & Explanation

B – PMF = bilateral opacities ≥1 cm (usually upper lobes).

NEET SS Pulmonary Medicine 2024

Caplan syndrome is the combination of:

1. Silicosis + Tuberculosis
2. Silicosis + Rheumatoid arthritis
3. Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis + Rheumatoid arthritis
4. Asbestosis + Lung cancer

Answer & Explanation

C – Caplan syndrome = Rheumatoid arthritis + Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (large necrotic nodules). Silicosis + RA is called “silico-arthritis” but not Caplan.

UPSC CMS 2024

Current permissible exposure limit (8-hour TWA) for respirable crystalline silica in India (2024) is:

1. 0.1 mg/m³
2. 0.05 mg/m³
3. 0.025 mg/m³
4. 0.3 mg/m³

Answer & Explanation

B – 0.05 mg/m³ (50 μg/m³) – adopted by DGMS and many states from 2023–24.

INI-CET May 2024

All are true about acute silicosis EXCEPT:

1. Occurs after massive exposure
2. Radiologically resembles alveolar proteinosis
3. Usually reversible on removal from exposure
4. High mortality

Answer & Explanation

C is false – Acute silicosis is rapidly progressive and usually fatal despite removal from exposure.

NEET PG 2022

Best single preventive measure in artificial stone workers is:

1. N95 mask
2. Wet cutting with water suppression
3. Annual spirometry
4. BCG vaccination

Answer & Explanation

B – Wet cutting reduces dust by >95 % and is the cornerstone of prevention.

ESIC Nursing Officer 2024

Silicosis predominantly affects which lung zones on chest X-ray?

1. Lower zones
2. Mid zones
3. Upper and mid zones
4. Apices only

Answer & Explanation

C – Upper and mid zones (posterior upper lobes and superior segment of lower lobes are classic).

Expected Question 2025–2026

Which country first banned dry cutting of engineered stone containing crystalline silica?

1. India
2. USA
3. Australia
4. UK

Answer & Explanation

C – Australia imposed a nationwide ban from July 2024 (first in the world).

INI-CET Nov 2025 Expected

The most fibrogenic polymorph of crystalline silica is:

1. Quartz
2. Cristobalite
3. Tridymite
4. All are equally fibrogenic

Answer & Explanation

B – Cristobalite is the most fibrogenic, followed by tridymite > quartz. (Often tested in recent exams)

NEET PG 2025 Expected

Silica acts as a lung carcinogen by which IARC group?

1. Group 1
2. Group 2A
3. Group 2B
4. Group 3

Answer & Explanation

A – Group 1 (Carcinogenic to humans) since 1997, reaffirmed 2024.

AIIMS PG May 2024

“Sandblaster’s lung” refers to which form of silicosis?

1. Chronic simple
2. Accelerated
3. Acute silicoproteinosis
4. Complicated

Answer & Explanation

C – Acute silicoproteinosis – classically seen in sandblasters due to very high exposure.

FMGE Jan 2025 Expected

All are true about silicosis EXCEPT:

1. Upper lobe predominance
2. Increased risk of tuberculosis
3. Restrictive pattern on spirometry
4. Pleural effusion is common

Answer & Explanation

D is false – Pleural effusion is rare in uncomplicated silicosis.

JIPMER PG 2024

ILO classification is used for radiographic interpretation of:

1. Asbestosis
2. Silicosis
3. Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis
4. All pneumoconioses

Answer & Explanation

D – All pneumoconioses. ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses is the global standard.

NEET SS Pulmonary Medicine 2025 Expected

Which cytokine most responsible for fibrosis in silicosis is:

1. TNF-α
2. IL-1
3. TGF-β
4. IFN-γ

Answer & Explanation

C – TGF-β (Transforming growth factor-beta) is the master regulator of fibrosis in silicosis.

UPSC CMS 2025 Expected

Under the Factories Act 1948, silicosis is listed as:

1. Scheduled disease
2. Notifiable disease
3. Compensable disease
4. All of the above

Answer & Explanation

D – All of the above. It is notifiable, scheduled, and compensable under Indian law.

ESIC/NVS Nursing Officer 2024

Earliest symptom of silicosis is usually:

1. Hemoptysis
2. Dyspnea on exertion
3. Chest pain
4. Weight loss

Answer & Explanation

B – Dyspnea on exertion (often insidious onset).

NEET PG 2023 Repeat

Which of the following does NOT cause classic silicosis?

1. Diatomaceous earth (uncalcined)
2. Freshly fractured quartz dust
3. Cristobalite in volcanic ash
4. Calcined diatomaceous earth

Answer & Explanation

A – Uncalcined diatomaceous earth is mostly amorphous → low risk. Calcined form contains cristobalite → highly fibrogenic.

Expected Question 2025–2026

The only proven treatment that may halt progression in severe silicosis is:

1. Corticosteroids
2. Whole lung lavage
3. Lung transplantation
4. Anti-fibrotics (nintedanib)

Answer & Explanation

C – Lung transplantation is the only definitive treatment for end-stage silicosis. Whole lung lavage is used in acute silicoproteinosis with variable success.

Read also: Silicosis: Complete Guide