Occupational Lung Disease

Question 1

What are the four main categories of occupational lung disease causes?

Answer 1

• Dust exposure
• Gases & fumes exposure
• Biological agents exposure
• Radiation exposure

These groups categorize the sources of respiratory diseases.

Question 2

What disease results from inhalation of inorganic dust?

Answer 2

Pneumoconiosis

Pneumoconiosis is a category of lung disease caused by the inhalation of various types of dust.

Question 3

Name two types of pneumoconiosis and their associated dust.

Answer 3

• Asbestosis (asbestos)
• Silicosis (silica)

These diseases are caused by prolonged exposure to specific inorganic dust.

Question 4

What is organic dust disease and give an example?

Answer 4

Disease caused by inhalation of moulds, spores, and proteins; e.g., farmers lung (mouldy hay).

Organic dust diseases arise from biological agents.

Question 5

What are inhalation fever syndromes?

Answer 5

Acute high-level exposure to agents causing fever-like symptoms.

This includes conditions like metal fume fever and polymer fume fever.

Question 6

List two examples of toxic gases associated with toxic pneumonitis.

Answer 6

• Chlorine gas
• Ammonia

Toxic pneumonitis can result from chronic exposure to these gases.

Question 7

What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

Answer 7

An allergic reaction to inhaled substances.

It is a subtype of extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Question 8

Fill in the blank: _______ is a type of pneumoconiosis associated with coal dust.

Answer 8

Coal workers pneumonitis

This condition is specifically linked to exposure in coal mining.

Question 9

What are the differentials for occupational lung disease?

Answer 9

• COPD
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
• Sarcoidosis

These conditions can present similarly to the diseases caused by inhalation exposures.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: _______ is a disease caused by inhalation of metal oxides.

Answer 10

Metal fume fever

This condition is part of inhalation fever syndromes.

Question 11

What is occupational asthma?

Answer 11

Patients present with concerns that chemicals at work are worsening their asthma, or you may notice pattern that symptoms improve at weekends or when away from work.

Question 12

Main cause of occupational asthma

Answer 12

Isocyanates

Example occupations include spray painting and foam moulding using adhesives.