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Silica sand, which is often turned into a gel and put into handbags and electronic goods to soak up moisture, has become the latest substance to join a list of toxic products worrying underwriters.

It was reported today that Aon, the second-largest insurance broker, said individuals extracting silica or working on manufacturing sites may be overexposed to the product, which could lead to silicosis - "a disabling, non-reversible and sometimes fatal lung disease". Other problems can include lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, airway diseases, autoimmune disorders and chronic renal disease.

The broker has added silica to its toxic substances database, which lists materials troubling the insurance and reinsurance industry. Asbestos and tobacco are also on the list, as is toxic mould - a fungus that grows on walls and carpets, and can lead to respiratory problems.

Silica is used in the stone masonry business, for glass production and pool-filter sand. Ground silica is ideal for plastics and rubber, polishes and cleansers, glassfibre and precision castings and fine-ground silica is a high-quality filler used in paints and coatings.

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