World-first research is underway that could change the way occupational lung diseases, including silicosis, are detected in Australia’s construction workforce, following the funding of the country’s first dedicated PExA (Particles in Exhaled Air) machine at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.
Silicosis is an incurable and potentially fatal chronic lung disease caused by breathing in fine silica dust.
It is most commonly associated with construction, mining, tunnelling and stonemasonry, where cutting, grinding and drilling materials such as concrete, brick and engineered stone release microscopic dust particles into the air.
Despite stronger workplace protections and growing awareness across the sector, silicosis is frequently diagnosed only after significant and irreversible scarring has already developed in the lungs.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation’s Tradie Health Institute initiative is working to change that timeline.
Researchers are using the PExA machine, which captures microscopic particles naturally exhaled from the deepest part of the lung through a simple breathing test, to investigate whether silicosis can be identified before that irreversible damage sets in.
Senior Thoracic Physician and Head of Research at the Queensland Lung Transplant Service Professor Dan Chambers said the technology represents a major shift in what is possible for workers at risk.
“We’re trialling a new technology that can detect tiny particles from the deepest part of the lungs using a breath sample,” said Chambers.
“This could allow us to identify disease much earlier – before serious damage occurs.”
For construction firms, the appeal lies in catching disease long before a worker ever notices symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, fatigue or chest pain.
The PExA technology was first introduced to Australia in 2024 using a machine on loan from Sweden.
Industry investment is now enabling the purchase of Australia’s own dedicated unit, ensuring ongoing access and allowing the research program to expand.
That investment includes a three-year, $300,000 commitment from CPB Contractors, a company that has built major Australian infrastructure for more than 90 years, including Cross River Rail in Brisbane, the Suburban Rail Loop East in Melbourne, and Western Sydney Airport.
CPB Contractors Queensland and PNG General Manager Vince Sanfilippo said the partnership reflects the company’s long-term commitment to protecting its workforce.
“As part of our commitment to improving health outcomes for those impacted by occupational lung disease and silicosis, we are proud to support the Tradie Health Institute’s groundbreaking research.”
Sanfilippo said the goal is a future where high-risk workers on construction sites can be screened routinely and non-invasively, rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.
“The continued trialling and development of technologies such as the PExA machine have the potential to transform how we protect our workers from silicosis through non-invasive and accessible early detection methods,” said Sanfilippo.
“This is a gamechanger for our workforce today and into the future.”
Queensland Lung Transplant Service researcher Kiara Knuckey said industry backing has been critical to moving the research forward at pace.
“Support from industry has allowed us to explore the full potential of the PExA technology and accelerate research that could ultimately benefit workers across Australia,” said Knuckey.
“This could completely change what early detection looks like in practice.
“The idea that we may one day identify disease before symptoms appear is incredibly powerful.”
The technology is already enabling world-first research comparing breath samples, bronchoalveolar lavage and blood-based biomarkers, with scientists analysing samples from both silicosis patients and healthy volunteers to identify early disease signatures.
Research and Impact Manager at The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Dr Rebekah Engel said philanthropic support is what allows researchers to pursue ideas at the earliest, riskiest stage, long before industry funding like CPB Contractors’ typically arrives.
“Early-stage research is often the most difficult to fund, yet it has the greatest potential to create meaningful change.”
As construction faces ongoing workforce shortages and an ageing workforce, researchers say the case for early investment has never been stronger.
Funding Australia’s first dedicated PExA machine marks a significant milestone, one that strengthens the country’s capacity to understand, diagnose and ultimately prevent silicosis among the tradies who build its cities and infrastructure.