Environmental Lung Diseases (Pneumoconiosis)

Environmental Lung Diseases (Pneumoconiosis)

• Invironmental lung diseases are certain pulmo­nary diseases for which environmental exposure or occupational conditions are responsible.
• asbestos lung, asbestos lung cancer, asbestos lung disease, asbestos lung mesothelioma,
• Mineral dust may give rise to restrictive lung diseases. There may be bronchial asthmaBronchial Asthma Etiology Pathogenesis Clinical features Treatment of Bronchial Asthma. Read more ... » called occupational asthma in which there is obstructive lung diseaseDIAGNOSIS and Investigations OF SECONDARY HYPERTENSION. Read more ... » which is reversible.
• Diagnostic procedures for pneumoconiosis are – chest x-rayThe Basics of X-ray key concept of Radiology. Read more ... », CT scan, MRI, heavy metal concentration in urine, bacteriology, fungal studies, serology, lung biopsy asbestos lung disease, asbestos lung mesothelioma,asbestos lung, asbestos lung cancer,

Environmental Lung Diseases (Pneumoconiosis)

ASBESTOSIS

• asbestos lung cancer, asbestos lung disease, asbestos lung mesothelioma,
• Asbestosis occurs in workers involved in building, boiler maker, ‘pipes, insulation materials, painters, electricians, fiber glass.
• Asbestos includes  Silicates, chrysolite and other or­ganic materials involved in mining, milling and quarry work.
• There is pulmonary fibrosis, cancers of respiratory tract, pleura, peritoneum.
• There is typically diffuse interstitial fibrosis and pul­monary fibrosis.
• There is reduction in diffusion capacity. There is thick­ening and calcification of parietal pleura especially at the bases. There may be pleural effusion.
• X-ray shows irregular or linear opacities in lower lung fields. HRCT (High resolution computerized tomogra­phy) shows distinct changes.
• Smoking and asbestosis increases incidence of lung cancerArbuda or Cancer Ayurvedic Review. Read more ... » many times.
• Lung cancers in asbestosis are – Squamous cell car­cinoma, adenocarcinoma, mesotheliomas, asbestos lung mesothelioma,  asbestos lung cancer, asbestos lung disease, asbestos lung mesothelioma,

Treatment

• is to avoid exposure and give symptom­atic managementChronic Renal Failure (CRF) Risk factors Causes Stage CRF Treatment. Read more ... ».

SILICOSIS

• Free silica or crystalline quartz exposure is common in mining, stone cutting, glass and ceme.nt manufac­turing.
• There is fibrosis, PMF (progressive massive fibrosis), silico tuberculosisLeprosy Hansen's Disease types Causes of leprosy sign and Symptoms With Treatment. Read more ... ».
• There are small rounded opacities in upper lobes, hi­lar adenopathy, calcification of hilar nodes (egg-shell pattern).
• There is progressive nodular fibrosis.
• There is restrictive as well as obstructive lung dis­ease.
• It leads to ventilatory failure.
• Silico-tuberculosis is the term used for patients of silicosis with M. tuberculosis and atypical mycobac­terial infections.
• X-ray, CT are diagnostic.

BERYLLIOSIS

• There is acuteDIAGNOSIS and Investigations OF SECONDARY HYPERTENSION. Read more ... » pneumonitis and chronicChronic Hepatitis Classification viral hepatitis Clinical features and Treatment. Read more ... » granuloma­tous disease. It is due to exposure to beryllium in workers involved in manufacture of alloys, ceramics, hi-tech electronics.
• There is restrictiv Lung disease as in SarcoidosisSarcoidosis Causes Diagnosis Symptoms and Treatment. Read more ... ».

COAL WORKERS PNEUMOCONIOSIS Environmental Lung Diseases (Pneumoconiosis)

COAL WORKERS PNEUMOCONIOSIS

• There is fibrosis, and small, round, regular opacities ~ the lung and nodular fibrosi~.
• Calcification is not seen.
• It is found in coal workers in coal mining with expo­sure to coal dust.
• It is a mild disease.
• Chest x-ray shows nodules from 1 cm to entire lobe. Caplan’s syndrome includes pneumoconiosis of coal workers, rheumatoid arthritis and PMF (progressive massive fibrosis). This syndrome is due to immuno­pathologic causesDIAGNOSIS and Investigations OF SECONDARY HYPERTENSION. Read more ... ».

COTTON DUST DISEASE (BYSSINOSIS)

• Byssinosis is a disease in persons exposed to cotton, flaxFlax Alsi Atasi Linum Usitatissimum Flax fibers Linseed oil Linum usitatissimum Ayurvedic Medicine of Kustha, Prameha. Read more ... », or hemp, especially those involved with blowing and straightening the fibers.
• There is tightness in the chest especially on Mondays that is first work day of the week, decrease in FEV₁, obstructive lung disease and bronchospasm.
• Chest x-ray may show round, irregular, small or big opacities which may obscure (hide) lung markings.

Treatment

• is avoiding exposure, and antihistamines. The disease is severe in cigarette-smokers.

OTHER OCCUPATIONAL DUSTS DISEASE

• Many inorganic and organic dusts can cause environ­mental lung diseases.
• Examples of Inorganic dusts – Antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cement, chromium, mica, iron, graphite.
• Examples of Organic dusts – Cotton, grains, hay.

CHEMICAL AGENTS TOXIC TO THE lUNG

• Acid fumes (sulphuric and nitric acid), ammonia, cya­nides, formaldehyde, ozone, sulphur dioxide, phos­gene.