Doctors at Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital say they have found a potential cure for deadly silicosis disease

Queensland doctors are hopeful they have found a cure for deadly silicosis lung disease, most frequently caused by inhaling toxic dust while cutting artificial stone.

Silicosis cases have been rising rapidly in Australia, driven by a trend toward engineered stone kitchen benchtops.

The procedure adapted in Brisbane and being hailed as a potential breakthrough in treatment involves washing the lungs out with salt water — a technique that has proven successful in treating other lung diseases.