A WOMAN who was attending an occupational pottery unit at a centre for people with intellectual disabilities developed a lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust there.
Vora McHugh (66), St Michael’s House, Goatstown, Dublin, died of an infection due to a lower respiratory tract infection at St Vincent’s University Hospital on January 8th this year.
Silicosis, a lung disease which is caused by inhalation of silica dust, was a significant contributory factor in her death, Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.
Ms McHugh, who had a mild learning difficulty, was exposed to the silica dust over an eight-year period when she was involved in pottery-making at a workshop unit at St Michael’s House.
The dust was from clay used in modelling. Ms McHugh’s breathing deteriorated about 12 years ago, and investigations in 1998 found she had diffuse “infiltrates” in her lungs.
Six other people who were involved in the workshop had ailments of a similar nature, her brother Barry McHugh told the court.
Ms McHugh, who had been attending the unit during the day, subsequently became a resident at St Michael’s House.
A postmortem found nodules in her lungs due to the inhalation of dust.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said if the case had involved a workplace he would have returned a verdict of occupational-related disease.
He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, and said he would inform the Health and Safety Authority of Ms McHugh’s death.