Environmental and Occupational Causes of Lung Disease Flashcards
What is epidemiology?
What, where, why, when , who?
What is causation?
Overlap and interact:
Internal, genetic, uterine development
External: smoking, exposure to agents
Social: deprivation, cultural norms
Types of occupational lung diseases?
2 basic types: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis = extrinsic allergic alveolitis: Farmer's lung (mouldy hay) Bird breeder's lung Cheese worker's lung Mollusc shell hypersensitivity Paprika splitter's lung
Pneumoconiosis: Asbestosis Silicosis Coal worker's lung Berylliosis
Appearance and treatment of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Extensive fibrosis honeycombing and air-trapping
Treatment is focused on antigen avoidance
What is asbestosis?
Form of pneumoconiosis and is a fibrotic lung disease caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres
Asbestos?
Used to be widely used a a fire retardant Usually safe unless disturbed 3 types: White Brown Blue (most dangerous)
Describe mesothelioma
Tumour of the pleura that can “suffocate” patient
Develops over 20 years (usually 30-40) after aspestos exposure
Relative risks of asbestos and smoking?
“Synergistic effect” - in UK, estimated relative risk is 30-50 times higher with exposure to both asbestos and smoking
Environmental sources of lung disease?
Indoor - asbestos, mould, cooking smoke, passive smoking, nanoparticles
Outdoor - air/traffic polution
Effects of poor housing?
Main effects are respiratory but also increases in accidents and mental illness
Damp + cold makes mould
Other problems with housing?
Overcrowding - predisposes to TB
Cooking smoke
Effects of passive smoking?
Asthma
Lung cancer
Many respiratory and non-respiratory problems
Air pollutants?
CO2 from exhausts and energy production
CH4 from cattle breeding
Sulphur oxides from exhausts and industry
CFCs from refrigerants and propellants
Nitrogen oxidesfrom exhausts and industry
O3 from air with high oxygen level, catalysed by nitrogen oxides
Soot and particulate matter (PM)from exhausts and industry
Greenhouse effectby keeping sun warmth and light from reflecting back into space
Particulate contamination affecting respiratory system
Raised UV radiation levels by destruction of ozone layer
Acid rain leads to acidification and forest die-back
Increased O3 levels affecting respiratory system
Contamination by nitrogen oxidesaffecting respiratory system
Types of smog?
Modern western smog - “photochemical smog) contains NO, NO2, O3 and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
"London" smog of old: Fly ash SO2 NaCl Calcium sulphate particles ...from high sulphur coal
Effects of traffic fumes?
Reduced lung growth in adolescents
Increased rates of asthma and COPD
Increased rates of respiratory symptoms like wheeze, cough and breathlessness
