Abstracts to be presented on Day 1:

• 8:20 a.m.-8:40 a.m.
Nearly-Free Silanols Define Molecular Recognition Pathway in Crystalline Silica Toxicity Mechanism
Presenter: F. Turci
These findings support a surface-chemistry–driven framework, pointing toward a new paradigm for silica toxicity.

• 8:40 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Toxicological Insights Into the Risk Factors for Silicosis: A State of the Science Review
Presenter: S. Dotson
This presentation will provide a state-of-the-science review of the recognized and theorized risk factors for silicosis.

• 9:00 a.m.-9:20 a.m.
From Crystalline Silica to Engineered Stone Dust: How Surface Properties Determine Toxicity Mechanisms
Presenter: C. Pavan
By linking engineered stone (ES) composition to surface-mediated toxicity mechanisms, this work provides new insight into the health risks of occupational ES dust exposure.

• 9:20 a.m.-9:40 a.m.
Estimating Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure Thresholds for Silicosis Risk
Presenter: K. Mundt
Famously historically proclaimed to be "virtually impossible," statistical estimates of exposure thresholds recently have been presented for respirable crystalline silica and silicosis - but not without substantial conceptual and methodological challenges.

• 9:40 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Summarizing Respirable Silica Compliance Monitoring Results
Presenter: P. Wambach
Analyses of respirable crystalline silica monitoring results to create charts and tables of summary statistics useful for planning and priority setting.

• 10:40 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Optimization of Laboratory Performance Evaluation of Respirable Samplers
Presenter: D. Sleeth
Collecting samples of respirable crystalline silica requires a properly validated sampling device, but do you know how your samplers are actually performance tested?

• 11:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m.
Developing Silica Sampling Strategies: Experimental Evaluation of Disposable and Reusable Respirable PPI Samplers
Presenter: G. Mainelis
The project investigates the performance of disposable and reusable PPI samplers.

• 11:20 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
A Critical Review of Cyclones for Sampling RCS
Presenter: M. Harper
Cyclones are the most common size-selection devices used in the sampling of airborne respirable particles, such as RCS, and they are critically reviewed and evaluated for their fitness-for-purpose.

• 11:40 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Wall Deposits in the Analysis of Respirable Dust Samples
Presenter: J-C. Soo
A component of an air sample may reside on the sampler walls rather than on the filter, and should generally be considered part of the sample.

• 1:20 p.m.-1:40 p.m.
Samplers for Simultaneous Collection of Inhalable and Respirable Dust and Metals in Welding Operations
Presenter: M. Harper
Samplers are evaluated for components of welding fume, such as manganese, which can have requirements for the assessment of both inhalable and respirable fractions.

• 1:40 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closing the Gap Between Measurement and Control: Real‑Time Monitoring in Integrated Silica Exposure Management
Presenter: A. Eccles
What if silica exposure exceedances could be identified and controlled while work is still underway, not weeks later?

• 2:00 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Field Validation of Conventional and Real-Time Respirable Exposure Assessment Devices
Presenter: M. Cattani
The methods and results of surveys using a variety of respirable sampling equipment compared to conventional devices, which clearly show the strengths and limitations of commonly used devices, will be presented.

• 2:20 p.m.-2:40 p.m.
Concurrent Measurement of Respirable Crystalline Silica, Metals, and Other Airborne Mineral and Chemical Hazards During Engineered Stone Fabrication Activities
Presenter: A. Persing
Countertop fabrication tasks were conducted in an isolation chamber to concurrently quantify personal breathing zone (PBZ) concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), co-occurring metals and non-silica mineral constituents, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with thermal degradation of polymer resins in engineered stone slabs.

• 3:30 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
Transitioning From Univariate to Multivariate Predictive Models for Respirable Quartz via Infrared Spectroscopy
Presenter: E. Cauda
Analytical methods for the quantification of crystalline silica use only a fraction of the potential of the analysis. This contribution proposes using more than one variable.

• 3:50 p.m.-4:10 p.m.
Application of Chemometrics to Improve Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Measurements for Respirable Crystalline Silica: Benefits and Future Needs
Presenter: P. Stacey
Recent experiences using chemometrics as an approach to improve Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis for measurement of personal worker aerosol samples for respirable crystalline silica in the presence of Feldspar minerals.

• 4:10 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Automated Quantitative Raman Spectroscopy to Monitor Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica
Presenter: K. Sparwasser
This study demonstrates how an automated Raman-based monitoring system can deliver rapid, on-site, end-of-shift measurements of respirable crystalline silica with accuracy comparable to laboratory methods, opening the door to faster, task-based exposure control in the workplace.

• 4:30 p.m.-4:50 p.m.
Accelerating Silica Quantification Using Raman Spectroscopy
Presenter: J. Morrow
This talk explores how direct-on-filter Raman methods may bridge the gap between traditional full-shift silica monitoring and the need for rapid, task-specific exposure insight.

Abstracts to be presented on Day 2:

• 8:20 a.m.-8:40 a.m.
Innovative Sample Preparation and Analytical Methodologies for Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)
Presenter: R. DeMalo
This presentation will explore advanced sample preparation and analytical methodologies designed to overcome sample challenges and interferences in sampling Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) in industry, mineral and metal mining operations.

• 8:40 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
An Evaluation of Validation Schemes for RCS Analysis by X-ray Diffraction
Presenter: P. Bertier
This contribution demonstrates that the currently used validation schemes for RCS analysis overestimate method performance and proposes a more realistic validation scheme.

• 9:00 a.m.-9:20 a.m.
Use of Rietveld Refinement to Better Understand RCS and Mineral Exposure
Presenter: J. Halvorsen
This presentation will discuss the use of XRD and Rietveld Refinement to obtain more information on mineral exposure from respirable dust.

• 9:20 a.m.-9:40 a.m.
Evaluation of Standard XRD Methods to Quantify Crystalline Silica
Presenter: P. O'Shaughnessy
Standard XRD methods to quantify respirable crystalline silica collected on filters underreport the mass of respirable crystalline silica present on the filter, as measured gravimetrically.

• 9:40 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Deciphering Cristobalite and Tridymite in Simple or Complex Matrices
Presenter: G. Tomaino
Re-categorization of opaline matrices as having cristobalite and/or tridymite components, and categorization to a cristobalite structure that should be a tridymite structure.

• 10:40 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Comparison of FTIR Direct-on-Filter Measurement Method With Indirect XRD Analysis for Quantification of Respirable Crystalline Silica Collected in an Iron Mine
Presenter: J. Martin
The environment under study serves as a relevant example where the regulatory method currently used in Québec for assessing exposure to crystalline silica carries a significant risk of underestimation. In this context, an analytical approach based on Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy emerges as a considerably more suitable alternative.

• 11:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m.
Ongoing Study of Equine Disease Related to Respirable Crystalline Cristobalite
Presenter: F. Ehrenfeld
Researchers from the University of California-Davis continue to study large animal disease vectors traced back to silica exposure. Here, the horse population at several vineyards was studied. The localities are near the Sierra Nevada range, sources of naturally occurring crystalline silica and cristobalite. The exposure mechanisms were studied along with the characterization of soil, surface vegetation, and aerosolization dynamics. Follow-up projects are planned along with the potential to employ D22.07's Work Item on Fluidized Bed Asbestos Segregator (FBAS) developed for USEPA and other researchers. This presentation will detail the geologic links, exposure links, and data, laboratory findings over a three-part study, and current disease causation theories.

• 11:20 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
Presence of Crystalline Silica in Landfill Biogas Equipment
Presenter: S. Carter
Landfill biogas containing siloxanes can be converted to crystalline silica through burning in combustion engines.

• 11:40 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Metals at a Copper Slag Processing Facility
Presenter: J. Kominsky
Physical characteristics of copper slag make it a suitable substitute for a silica sand abrasive; however, the study results raise uncertainty concerning the safety of using copper slag based on the sole premise that its crystalline silica content (<1%) is significantly lower than that in silica sand (>95%).

• 1:20 p.m.-1:40 p.m.
Controlling Silica Exposure During Screen Changes at an Industrial Minerals Processing Facility
Presenter: A. O'Brien
This presentation will demonstrate a cost-effective means for controlling worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica during screen changes and/or maintenance.

• 1:40 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Strategies for Addressing Respiratory Protection Selections for Stone Countertop Fabricators
Presenter: J. Houlroyd
This presentation will discuss strategies for addressing respiratory protection selections for stone countertop fabricators exposed to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica when processing quartz/ engineered stone slabs using Georgia OSHA Consultation Data from 2017 through 2023.

• 2:00 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Visualizing Dust Exposure Through Data and Video Integration
Presenter: D. Ott
Turn real-time dust data into action: see how real-time dust monitoring data and NIOSH EVADE video integration create powerful tools for hazard evaluation and worker training.

• 2:20 p.m.-2:40 p.m.
Outreach Program's Impact on Insured Silica Shops
Presenter: S. Zhang
Effectiveness of an in-person outreach program on silica exposure levels and compliance to Cal/OSHA ETS in insured California countertop fabrication shops.

• 2:40 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
OSHA Update on Silica Engineered Stone Enforcement Initiative
Presenter: J. Kim

• 3:30 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
Tracking Silica Exposure Risks in Mining
Presenter: J. Fang
This session presents findings on the use of real-time data to support silica exposure risk management in mining.

• 3:50 p.m.-4:10 p.m.
RASCAL: Remote Assessment of Silica Controls to Alert and Learn
Presenter: C. Bender
Water and ventilation can control RCS exposures, but it requires the skill of an Industrial Hygienist to solve the riddle in a stone countertop fabrication shop.

• 4:10 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
A Multi-Dimensional Model for RCS Risk Incorporating Physical and Psychosocial Factors
Presenter: C. Strautins
This talk challenges exposure-only thinking by presenting a multi-dimensional RCS risk model that integrates measurement uncertainty, tolerance, and acceptance of disease outcomes, Bayesian decision theory, and psychosocial factors.

Poster Presentations Days 1 & 2:

Author Attend Time: 1:00 p.m.-1:20 p.m.

• Source-Level Monitoring to Prevent Indoor Dust Exposure
Presenter: D. Wadhwani
Continuous source-level air monitoring enables proactive control of respirable silica and dust infiltration through HVAC systems, safeguarding indoor environments and optimizing building performance. 

• Silica Exposure to Ground Crew
Presenter: A. Shukla
Although grounds work is often perceived as lower risk than construction or mining, the severity of silica-related health outcomes documented worldwide (Leung et al., 2012) underscores the need for proactive exposure assessment, control, and monitoring among grounds crews.

• Workplace Exposure Patterns Across the Engineered Stone Supply Chain: Fabricator Behaviors and Risk
Presenter: F. Pagone
A literature-based overview of workplace factors reported to influence respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and mineral particulate exposures during engineered stone fabrication. 

• Modification of a Respirable Sampler Filter Cassette to Allow Through Filter Cassette Measurements for Respirable Crystalline Silica Using Portable Fourier Transform Infrared Instruments
Presenter: P. Stacey
A modified filter cassette for the SIMPEDS respirable sampler to allow through filter cassette Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) on-site measurements of worker samples for respirable crystalline silica.

• From "Zero" to "Controlled": Correcting Risk Misinterpretation in Countertop Silica Exposure Decisions
Presenter: R. Harvey
Examine risk communication regarding respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposures in the countertop manufacturing industry and propose a practical communication framework that links monitoring outputs to decisions regarding workers' and supervisors' control.

• Enhanced Toxicity of Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica from Engineered Stone
Presenter: S. Crawford
While engineered stone contains more respirable crystalline silica than natural stone, it also presents physical and chemical characteristics different from natural stone, which can make it more toxic than natural stone silica dust, emphasizing the need for effective exposure control and offering clues for sampling and analysis performance.

• Decision Support System for Managing Employee RCS Exposure
Presenter: T. Alarcon Falconi
A decision support system that translates RCS research findings into practical strategies for managing employee exposure in small and medium-sized stone fabrication shops.

• Engineered Stone and Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure: Clarifying Fallacies about Toxicity and Risk Management
Presenter: M. Stevens
This study explores common fallacies about engineered stone and respirable crystalline silica, focusing on how exposure levels and control practices, not material differences, determine silicosis risk.

• Determinants of RCS Exposure from Countertop Fabrication: What We Know, What Remains Uncertain, and Pathways to Improved Risk Management
Presenter: N. Jacobs
This presentation will share findings from a comprehensive literature review of RCS exposures during countertop fabrication, identify variables that can influence exposure, recommend effective exposure controls, and offer guidance for harmonizing future research.

• Silica Control Tool: A Risk Assessment Tool
Presenter: M. Friesen
Step-by-step guidance for silica dust compliance on construction sites.