Pneumoconiosis

Pneumoconiosis is a chronic lung disease caused due to the inhalation of various forms of dust particles, particularly in industrial workplaces, for an extended period of time. Hence it is also said to be an occupational lung disease, which are a particular subdivision of occupational related diseases that are related primarily to being exposed to harmful substances, whether they are gas or dusts, in the work place, and the pulmonary disorders that may result from it. The severity and type of pneumoconiosis depends on what the dust particles comprise of; for example, small amounts of certain substances, such as asbestos and silica, can lead to serious reactions, while others may not be as harmful.

What are the Various Types of Pneumoconiosis?

The most common types of pneumoconiosis are: coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and asbestosis. As is evident by their names, these pneumoconioses are caused due to the inhalation of coal mine dust, silica dust, and asbestos fibers. Usually, it takes several years for these pneumoconioses to develop and manifest themselves. However, sometimes, particularly with silicosis, it can develop quite rapidly, within a short period of being exposed to large amounts of silica dust. In their severe form, pneumoconioses often result in the impairment of the lungs, disability, and even untimely death.

Apart from the above mentioned pneumoconioses, there are also other kinds such as: berylliosis, due to inhaling beryllium dust; bauxite fibrosis, because of inhaling bauxite dust; siderosis, due to inhaling iron dust; byssinosis, due to inhaling cotton dust. Some of the other types of dusts that cause pneumoconiosis are: aluminum, barium, antimony, graphite, kaolin, talc, mica, and so on. There is also a type known as mixed-dust pneumoconiosis.

As far as public health is concerned, pneumoconiosis is completely a man-made disease, which can be prevented with adequate dust control and protective gear in the work place.

Given below are the descriptions of some of the common types of pneumoconiosis:

Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis: Also known as black lung disease, this is caused due to being exposed to particles of carbon from coal, lamp black, or graphite for a prolonged period of time, and commonly occurs amongst coal miners and people who handle coal. It is akin to the effects of smoking tobacco for a long period of time and also silicosis, caused by the inhalation of silica dust. When coal dust is inhaled for a long period of time, it builds up in the lungs, which the body is not able to remove. This results in inflammation of the lungs, which then leads to fibrosis along with nodular lesions forming in the lungs, and finally, the centers of these lesions may even become necrotic because of ischemia, causing large size cavities in the lungs.

While initially, this type of pneumoconiosis may occur in it milder form, referred to as anthracosis, which is usually asymptomatic, and occurs amongst people inhabiting urban areas because of air pollution, however, the more serious forms of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, such as simple coal workers’ pneumoconiosis as well as complicated coal workers’ pneumoconiosis occurs when a person is exposed to large amounts of carbon or coal dust.

Due to declining levels of dust in underground coal mines as well as the increase in opencast mining has lead to a decline of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.

Asbestosis: This is caused due to the inhalation of fibrous minerals that asbestos is made of. The exposure begins with the baggers, who handle the asbestos by collecting them and packaging them, to workers that make products out of them such as insulation material, cement, and tiles, and people working in the shipbuilding industry, and construction workers. It usually takes about 20 years, or more, for the symptoms of asbestos pneumoconiosis to manifest itself.

Silicosis: This type of pneumoconiosis occurs in people who handle silica, generally as quartz, which is found in sandstone, sand, granite, slate, certain types of clays, and so on. The people who have the most amount of exposure to silica are those who make glass and ceramic products, quarry workers, foundry workers, silica millers, tunnel builders, miners, and sandblasters. Silicosis leads to fibrosis within the lungs, which increases progressively, and impairs the functioning of the lungs. It is further exacerbated in people who smoke cigarettes.

What are the Symptoms of Pneumoconiosis?

In its milder forms, pneumoconiosis may not have any symptoms. However, when the symptoms do develop, they may be:

• Shortness of breath, particularly on exertion
• Wheezing
• Chronic coughing, which may or may not be accompanied by mucus

If there is severe fibrosis of the lungs, it can become extremely difficult to breathe, and when this occurs, it may lead to the fingernails and lips getting a bluish tinge. In the advanced form of pneumoconiosis, there may also be swelling in the legs due to excessive strain on the heart.

How is Pneumoconiosis Treated?

First of all, you will be advised by your doctor to avoid being exposed to the dust causing the pneumoconiosis. Medications that need to be inhaled will also be prescribed in order to reduce the inflammation of the air passages and to open up the bronchial tubes. In case the level of oxygen in the blood goes below 90 percent, you will have to make arrangements at home for additional oxygen, which you will have to breathe in according to the directions given. Also, immunization with pneumococcal and flu vaccines will also be recommended as a protective measure against infections of the lungs. If a lung infection does develop, antibiotics will most probably be prescribed.

In case the breathing problems are extreme, the only cure is a lung transplant.

How can Pneumoconiosis be Prevented?

A protective mask should be worn when working with any of the above-mentioned material, such as coal, asbestos, silica, and so on. Also, governments should ensure that companies comply with the permitted levels of dust regulations.