Occupational exposure to silica or silicon dioxide dust has been examined as a possible risk factor with respect to several diseases, like tuberculosis, lung cancer, systemic vasculitis , rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis , systemic lupus erythematosus , renal involvement , etc.

Early in 1951, Saita G et al.firstly reported that the renal functions were decreased in some silicosis patients. Subsequently, several epidemiological evidences suggested that the silica exposure was associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), or specifically glomerulonephritis.

Silica nephropathy referred to the floorboard of kidney diseases after exposure to silica or silicon dioxide, including tubulo-interstitial disease, immune-mediated disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. In literatures, the renal histopathology of silica nephropathy was varied, including focal glomerureview ritis, necrotizing glomerulonephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, etc.