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16th January 2024
Background
Pneumoconiosis is a group of chronic interstitial lung diseases that develop following inhalation of mineral or metal dust, predominantly found in the work environment. These include asbestosis, silicosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis and berylliosis. The aetiology of pneumoconiosis is detailed below. The main clinical sequelae of pneumoconiosis include progressive pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation and progressive respiratory or heart failure.
| Mineral/dust | Disease | Occupation/Industry |
|---|---|---|
| Silica | Silicosis | Mining, construction, foundry work, quarrying, sandblasting, ceramics, pottery, glass manufacturing, stone cutting |
| Beryllium | Berylliosis | Ore mining/processing, ceramics, nuclear bomb manufacturing, insulation industry |
| Coal dust | Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis | Coal mining |
| Asbestos | Asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening, benign pleural effusion, Mesothelioma | Shipyard, construction, mechanic, insulation, plumbers, textiles, cement, tile production
NB- asbestos can be passed on clothes or footwear to co-inhabitants |
Table 1- Aetiology of pneumoconiosis (Adapted from Table 1, Brown, L. (2013) “ClinicalKey,” Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 101(4), pp. 342–343. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.101.4.023. )
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