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Chinese Medical Journal Apr 2021Pneumoconiosis refers to a spectrum of pulmonary diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust, usually as the result of certain occupations. The main pathological... (Review)
Review
Pneumoconiosis refers to a spectrum of pulmonary diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust, usually as the result of certain occupations. The main pathological features include chronic pulmonary inflammation and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which can eventually lead to death caused by respiratory and/or heart failure. Pneumoconiosis is widespread globally, seriously threatening global public health. Its high incidence and mortality lie in improper occupational protection, and in the lack of early diagnostic methods and effective treatments. This article reviews the epidemiology, safeguard procedures, diagnosis, and treatment of pneumoconiosis, and summarizes recent research advances and future research prospects.
Topics: Dust; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Pneumoconiosis; Pulmonary Fibrosis
PubMed: 33879753
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001461 -
Radiologia Dec 2022The term inhalational lung disease comprises a group of entities that develop secondary to the active aspiration of particles. Most are occupational lung diseases....
The term inhalational lung disease comprises a group of entities that develop secondary to the active aspiration of particles. Most are occupational lung diseases. Inhalational lung diseases are classified as occupational diseases (pneumoconiosis, chemical pneumonitis), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and electronic-cigarette-associated lung diseases. The radiologic findings often consist of nonspecific interstitial patterns that can be difficult to interpret. Therefore, radiologists' experience and multidisciplinary teamwork are key to ensure correct evaluation. The role of the radiologist is fundamental in preventive measures as well as in diagnosis and management, having an important impact on patients' overall health. It is crucial to take into account patients' possible exposure to particles both at work and at home.
Topics: Humans; Lung Diseases; Pneumoconiosis; Lung; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Pneumonia
PubMed: 36737167
DOI: 10.1016/j.rxeng.2022.10.007 -
British Journal of Industrial Medicine Jul 1949
Topics: Humans; Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis; Talc
PubMed: 18132351
DOI: 10.1136/oem.6.3.184 -
Clinical Imaging May 2023The radiological patterns of known pneumoconiosis have been changing in recent years. The basic pathology in pneumoconiosis is the presence of dust macules, mixed dust... (Review)
Review
The radiological patterns of known pneumoconiosis have been changing in recent years. The basic pathology in pneumoconiosis is the presence of dust macules, mixed dust fibrosis, nodules, diffuse interstitial fibrosis, and progressive massive fibrosis. These pathologic changes can coexist in dust-exposed workers. High resolution CT reflects pathological findings in pneumoconiosis and is useful for the diagnosis. Pneumoconiosis such as silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, graphite pneumoconiosis, and welder's pneumoconiosis, has predominant nodular HRCT pattern. Diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is sometimes found in the lungs of this pneumoconiosis. In the early stages of metal lung, such as aluminosis and hard metal lung, centrilobular nodules are predominant findings, and in the advanced stages, reticular opacities are predominant findings. The clinician must understand the spectrum of expected imaging patterns related to known dust exposures and novel exposures. In this article, HRCT and pathologic findings of pneumoconiosis with predominant nodular opacities are shown.
Topics: Humans; Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis; Lung; Dust; Pulmonary Fibrosis
PubMed: 36878176
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2023.02.010 -
Journal of Occupational Health Mar 2017The Japanese government established the Pneumoconiosis Law in 1960 to protect health and promote the welfare of workers engaged in dust-exposed works. This article... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The Japanese government established the Pneumoconiosis Law in 1960 to protect health and promote the welfare of workers engaged in dust-exposed works. This article describes Japanese practice in workplace health management as regulated by the Pneumoconiosis Law to reduce pneumoconiosis in Japan.
METHODS
We collected information addressing pneumoconiosis and the health care of dust-exposed workers. We included all types of scientific papers found through a PubMed search as well as official reports, guidelines, and relevant laws published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan and other academic institutions.
RESULTS
In the past, pneumoconiosis has been a major cause of mortality and morbidity for Japanese workers engaged in dust-exposed work. The Pneumoconiosis Law introduced a system of pneumoconiosis health examination and health supervision to protect workers' health. According to the periodic pneumoconiosis health examination reports in Japan, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis fell from the highest reported figure of 17.4% in 1982, where 265,720 examinations were conducted, to 1% in 2013 in which 243,740 workers were examined. The number of new cases of pneumoconiosis dropped from 6,842 cases in 1980 to 227 cases in 2013. One hundred and seventy two workers were diagnosed as having pneumoconiosis complications in 1980; however, the number fell to five in 2013.
CONCLUSION
After reaching its peak in the 1980s, pneumoconiosis and its complications fell each year. The achievement of Japanese pneumoconiosis prevention can be credited to a comprehensive provision for worker health, regulated by a thorough legal framework.
Topics: Dust; Early Diagnosis; Humans; Japan; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Pneumoconiosis; Safety Management; Spirometry
PubMed: 27980247
DOI: 10.1539/joh.16-0031-RA -
Korean Journal of Radiology Aug 2023Occupational lung diseases (OLD) are a group of preventable conditions caused by noxious inhalation exposure in the workplace. Workers in various industries are at a... (Review)
Review
Occupational lung diseases (OLD) are a group of preventable conditions caused by noxious inhalation exposure in the workplace. Workers in various industries are at a higher risk of developing OLD. Despite regulations contributing to a decreased incidence, OLD remain among the most frequently diagnosed work-related conditions, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) is necessary for a timely diagnosis. Imaging, particularly computed tomography, plays a central role in diagnosing OLD and excluding other inhalational lung diseases. OLD can be broadly classified into fibrotic and non-fibrotic forms. Imaging reflects variable degrees of inflammation and fibrosis involving the airways, parenchyma, and pleura. Common manifestations include classical pneumoconioses, chronic granulomatous diseases (CGD), and small and large airway diseases. Imaging is influenced by the type of inciting exposure. The findings of airway disease may be subtle or solely uncovered upon expiration. High-resolution chest CT, including expiratory-phase imaging, should be performed in all patients with suspected OLD. Radiologists should familiarize themselves with these imaging features to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Topics: Humans; Lung Diseases; Pneumoconiosis; Occupational Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 37500580
DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2023.0274 -
Primary Care Respiratory Journal :... Jun 2013
Review
Topics: Asbestosis; Humans; Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis
PubMed: 23708110
DOI: 10.4104/pcrj.2013.00055 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Aug 2000Exposure to coal mine dust and/or crystalline silica results in pneumoconiosis with initiation and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This review presents... (Review)
Review
Exposure to coal mine dust and/or crystalline silica results in pneumoconiosis with initiation and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This review presents characteristics of simple and complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) as well as pathologic indices of acute and chronic silicosis by summarizing results of in vitro, animal, and human investigations. These results support four basic mechanisms in the etiology of CWP and silicosis: a) direct cytotoxicity of coal dust or silica, resulting in lung cell damage, release of lipases and proteases, and eventual lung scarring; b) activation of oxidant production by pulmonary phagocytes, which overwhelms the antioxidant defenses and leads to lipid peroxidation, protein nitrosation, cell injury, and lung scarring; c) activation of mediator release from alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells, which leads to recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, resulting in the production of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive species and in further lung injury and scarring; d) secretion of growth factors from alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells, stimulating fibroblast proliferation and eventual scarring. Results of in vitro and animal studies provide a basis for proposing these mechanisms for the initiation and progression of pneumoconiosis. Data obtained from exposed workers lend support to these mechanisms.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Coal; Humans; Mining; Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis
PubMed: 10931786
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.00108s4675 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022This study aims to summarize the characteristics of diagnosed pneumoconiosis and pneumoconiosis death in the Hubei Province of China, between the years 1949 and 2019,...
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to summarize the characteristics of diagnosed pneumoconiosis and pneumoconiosis death in the Hubei Province of China, between the years 1949 and 2019, and provide clues for the scientific prevention of pneumoconiosis.
METHODS
We recruited 23,069 pneumoconiosis cases in Hubei Province, China, from 1949 to 2019. Basic information and occupational surveillance information were obtained from the Hubei Occupational Diseases and Health Risk Factors Information Surveillance System.
RESULTS
The annually diagnosed pneumoconiosis cases showed an overall increasing trend from 1949 to 2019 in Hubei Province. The major types of pneumoconiosis were coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP, 49.91%) and silicosis (43.39%). Pneumoconiosis cases were mainly engaged in mining (75.32%) and manufacturing (12.72%), and were distributed in Huangshi (35.48%), Yichang (16.16%), and Jingzhou (7.97%). CWP (47.50%) and silicosis (44.65%) accounted for most of the deaths.
CONCLUSIONS
The number of pneumoconiosis cases and deaths in Hubei increased in the period of 1949 to 2019. Silicosis and CWP contributed to the predominant types of pneumoconiosis. Prevention and control measures should continue to be taken to reduce the morbidity and mortality of pneumoconiosis.
Topics: Humans; Coal Mining; Pneumoconiosis; Anthracosis; Silicosis; Occupational Diseases; China
PubMed: 36497874
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315799 -
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Dec 2017A 40-year-old female dental technician visited our hospital for the investigation of a chest X-ray abnormality. Chest computed tomography demonstrated centrilobular...
A 40-year-old female dental technician visited our hospital for the investigation of a chest X-ray abnormality. Chest computed tomography demonstrated centrilobular nodules and lung volume reduction, and her serum KL-6 level was elevated. A histological analysis of the specimens obtained on a surgical lung biopsy showed peribronchiolar fibrosis with pigmented macrophages and cholesterol clefts. An energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed that these lung tissues contained some metals, including indium. The serum indium level was also elevated. We diagnosed this patient with pneumoconiosis caused by exposure to sandblasting certain dental metals. This is the first reported case of pneumoconiosis in a dental technician associated with exposure to indium.
Topics: Adult; Dental Materials; Dental Technicians; Female; Humans; Lung; Occupational Diseases; Pneumoconiosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 29021460
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.8860-17