Occupational and environmental lung disease

Clin Chest Med. 2015 Jun;36(2):249-68, viii-ix. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.008. Epub 2015 Apr 1.

Abstract

Occupational and environmental lung disease remains a major cause of respiratory impairment worldwide. Despite regulations, increasing rates of coal worker's pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis are being reported in the United States. Dust exposures are occurring in new industries, for instance, silica in hydraulic fracking. Nonoccupational environmental lung disease contributes to major respiratory disease, asthma, and COPD. Knowledge of the imaging patterns of occupational and environmental lung disease is critical in diagnosing patients with occult exposures and managing patients with suspected or known exposures.

Keywords: Asbestos; Beryllium; Biomass; Coal; Hard metal; Hypersensitivity pneumonitis; Occupational asthma; Silica.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Illness / epidemiology*
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Morbidity
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*