How Many Types of Pneumoconiosis Are There?

Pneumoconiosis is the most common occupational lung disease in developing countries. Pneumoconiosis applies to a variety of diseases. The name originated from the dust that causes the disease, for example, silicosis, asbestos, and pneumoconiosis of the Kohler, also called as "black lung".

Commonly, pneumoconiosis befalls to workers in certain occupations and in persons living in areas of high particulate matter in the air. The forms of pneumoconiosis vary from almost benign to destructive or deadly conditions like silicosis and asbestosis.

Usually, the level of exposure over a long period, more often 10-30 years, should be quite high for a worker developing pneumoconiosis. It is also common that there is a lengthy period of latency between the first exposure of a person to dust and the onset of pneumoconiosis. Therefore, the cases of the disease that occur now can be a result of the working condition of the patient for many years. However, some very aggressive forms of silicosis can develop very quickly.

Several types of pneumoconiosis

Asbestosis

This is a disease prompted by over exposure of asbestos dust. This disease affects workers who work in industrial handling products such as flooring or roofing materials, sewer, insulation, brake linings and couplings.

This situation can cause tuberous swelling of the nails with curved nails, a condition called digital clubbing linked to shortness of breath. People who suffer from this disease are more likely to be infected by lung cancer, probably bronchogenic carcinoma, a very deadly cancer that affects the lungs.

Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP)

It is also called black lung disease. As the name implies, coal dust is responsible for this disease. As a result, miners and all other coal-related workers are at risk of being affected by CWP.

Asymptomatic is the early stages of CWP. Not only coal miners, but almost the entire urban population is exposed to the carbon by air pollution. The fatal form of this disease evolves into chronic bronchitis.

Silicosis

It is also known as grinder's and potter's asthma. This disease is affected by fumed silica. When silicosis develops, the lungs become inflamed in the upper sections. The sandstone, mortar, slate, sand and flint industries have to come in contact with silica.

All workers involving in these industries dealing with grinding, crushing, breaking, cutting, drilling or continuous working run the risk of inhaling silicate dust. Silicosis symptoms can be a cough, chest pain, nail anomalies, difficulty breathing and weight loss. 

Bauxite fibrosis

It is also called as bauxite fusion disease. Being exposed to bauxite smoke causes pneumoconiosis of bauxite. Bauxite smoke contains aluminium and silica particles. Smelting is the stage in which workers are affected by bauxite pneumoconiosis.

Beryllium

Beryllium exposure is the cause of berylliosis or also called as chronic beryllium disease (CBD). It is the aerospace industry disease and the diseases of an industry where fluorescent lamps are made. Sadly, it cannot be cured even though the symptoms can be lessened.

Beryllium causes the lungs to develop small, inflamed nodules which are called granulomas. These granulomas resemble tuberculous granulomas, although they are not identical. The symptoms of berylliosis include chest pain, cough, fever, joint pain, shortness of breath and weight loss.

Siderosis

The disease is prompted by iron dust. People who have a high risk of this disease are ironworkers, welders, steelworkers and miners. They are recognised to be affected by lung cancer and different respiratory diseases. The welding fumes have caused the welders to have an obstructive airway disease.

Sources:

https://www.healthcareatoz.com/different-types-of-pneumoconiosis/

https://www.ayurvediccure.com/6-types-of-pneumoconiosis/