- A general term given to any lung disease caused by dusts that are breathed in and then deposited deep in the lungs causing damage.
- After the dust particles land and settle in the lung, the lung tissue may try to get rid of the dust particles or try to surround them to prevent them from causing damage. Cells from your immune system travel to these affected areas of lung, and inflammation develops as it tries to fight the dust particle. In some cases, the inflammation is severe enough to cause scar tissue to form. The formation of scar tissue in the lung is called fibrosis. If the inflammation or fibrosis is severe enough or involves a large enough area of lung tissue, breathing will be affected. Dry cough and shortness of breath are common symptoms of fibrosis.
- Usually considered an occupational lung disease because exposure to the dusts that can cause pneumoconiosis often are found in the workplace.
- Different types of dust cause different types of pneumoconiosis; however, not all types of dust are known to cause pneumoconiosis.
- Exposure to asbestos, silica, and coal dust are the most common causes of pneumoconiosis. Most types of dust are not known to cause pneumoconiosis.
- There is no cure for pneumoconiosis, but it can be prevented with appropriate respiratory protection.
- The severity of pneumoconiosis varies widely depending on the type of dust, how much of the lungs are affected and how intense the dust exposure was.
