Pneumoconiosis – an occupational related disease




Pneumoconiosis – an occupational related disease

According to American Lung Association, pneumoconiosis is a general term given to any lung disease caused by dusts that are breathed in and then deposited deep in the lungs causing damage. Pneumoconiosis is usually considered an occupational lung disease, and includes asbestosissilicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as "Black Lung Disease."
Pneumoconiosis may be diagnosed by routine workplace surveillance in exposed workers, or it may be diagnosed because symptoms develop in a person previously exposed to mineral dusts. Most treatments for patients with pneumoconiosis are aimed at limiting further damage to the lung, decreasing symptoms and improving quality of life.
The most common symptoms of pneumoconiosis are cough and shortness of breath, and the risk is generally higher when people have been exposed to mineral dusts such as asbestos, silica and coal dust in high concentrations or for long periods of time.
In 2013 CWP resulted in 25,000 deaths down from 29,000 deaths in 1990. Between 1970–1974, prevalence of CWP among US coal miners who had worked over 25 years was 32%; the same group saw a prevalence of 9% in 2005–2006.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. To better protect workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica, OSHA has issued two new respirable crystalline silica standards: one for construction, and the standard for construction on September 23, 2017, and will begin enforcing most provisions of the standard for general industry and maritime on June 23, 2018.


Resources 
http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumoconiosis/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalworker%27s_pneumoconiosis#Epidemiology

Comments

  1. I decided to discuss Pneumoconiosis as well. It was nice learning about the different forms of lung disease and its cause. This was my first time ever hearing about this. Great information!

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