Occupational Lung Disease

What is Occupational Lung Disease?

An "occupational lung disease" is a lung disease connected with someone's occupation - their job. It is a disease caused by something you come into contact with at work.

The term "occupational lung disease" covers a group of different lung conditions. Each condition is different, and affects your lungs in a different way.

Some occupational lung diseases affect the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs (our 'airways'). Occupational asthma is an example of this sort of problem.

Other occupational lung diseases may affect the tiny air sacs through which oxygen is transferred into the blood from the air we breathe. 'Farmer's lung' is an example of this.

Other conditions may affect the thin lining between our lungs and our ribcage. Asbestos can cause a number of different occupational diseases here.

Consider these statistics from the American Lung Association:

• Occupational lung diseases are the number one cause of work-related illness.
• Most occupational lung diseases are caused by repeated, long-term exposure, but even a severe, single exposure to a hazardous agent can damage the lungs.
• Occupational lung diseases are preventable.
• Smoking can increase both the severity of an occupational lung disease and the risk of lung cancer.

Examples :

• Pneumoconiosis
  • Asbestosis
  • Baritosis
  • Bauxite fibrosis
  • Berylliosis
  • Caplan's syndrome
  • Chalicosis
  • Coalworker's pneumoconiosis (black lung)
  • Siderosis
  • Silicosis
  • Byssinosis
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  • Bagassosis
  • Bird fancier's lung
  • Farmer's lung

Symptoms :

The following are the most common symptoms of lung diseases, regardless of the cause. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• coughing
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• abnormal breathing pattern

Diagnosis :

Occupational lung diseases, like other lung diseases, usually require an initial chest x-ray for preliminary diagnosis. In addition, various tests may be performed to determine the type and severity of the lung disease, including:

• pulmonary function tests - diagnostic tests that help to measure the lungs' ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide appropriately. The tests are usually performed with special machines that the person must breathe into.
• microscopic examination of tissue, cells, and fluids from the lungs
• biochemical and cellular studies of lung fluids
• measurement of respiratory or gas exchange functions
• examination of airway or bronchial activity

What is the difference between inorganic and organic dust?

Particles in the air may cause lung problems. Often called particulate matter (PM), particles can consist of a combination of dust, pollens, molds, dirt, soil, ashes, and soot. Particulate matter in the air comes from many sources, such as factories, smokestacks, exhaust, fires, mining, construction, and agriculture. The finer the particles are, the more damage they can do to the lungs, because they are easily inhaled deep into the lungs, where they are absorbed into the body.

"Inorganic" refers to any substances that do not contain carbon, excluding certain simple carbon oxides, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. "Organic" refers to any substances that do contain carbon, excluding simple carbon oxides, sulfides, and metal carbonates.

Examples of inorganic dust diseases:

• asbestosis
  
  
• coal worker's pneumoconiosis
  
  
• silicosis
  
  

Examples of organic dust diseases:

• byssinosis
  
  
• hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  
  
• occupational asthma
  
  

Prevention :

The best prevention for occupational lung diseases is avoidance of the inhaled substances that cause lung diseases. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends taking other preventive measures, as well, including:

• Do not smoke. Smoking can actually increase the risk for occupational lung disease.
• Wear proper protective devices, such as facial masks, when around airborne irritants and dusts.
• Evaluate lung function with spirometry (an evaluation of lung function performed in the physician's office) as often as recommended by your physician to familiarize yourself with your lung function.
• Educate your workers concerning the risks of lung disease.
• Hire a specially-trained occupational health expert to investigate your work environment for risks for occupational lung diseases.

Treatment :

Treatment will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent and type of lung disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference.