occupational lung disease - coal worker, silicosis, asbestosis Flashcards
how do these occur
exposure to dusts, gases, vapours and fumes at work
what can cause acute bronchitis and pulmonary oedema
irritants such as sulphur dioxide, chlorine, ammonia
what causes pulmonary fibrosis
mineral dust
what does pneumoconiosis mean
the accumulation of dust in the lung and the reaction of the tissue to its presence
what are the symptoms like
COPD
if they get COPD they get compensation
what can pneumoconiosis progress to
fibrosis
what do patients with massive fibrosis develop
round fibrotic masses
what jobs can lead to silicosis
- stonemason
- sand-blaster
- pottery
- ceramic
- foundry workers
what causes silicosis
inhalation of silica (silicon dioxide)
how much silica is enough to kill.
3g
(compared to 30g is needed of copper to cause issues(
what is silica toxic to
alveolar macrophages
what does silica initiate
fibrogenesis
what is seen on chest x-ray of silicosis
- streaks of calcification
= egg shell calcification
what is asbestos
mixture of silicates of iron, magnesium, nickel, cadmium and aluminium
what does asbestos occur. as
a fibre
what is asbestos resistant to
- heat
- acid
- alkali
what is asbestos used for
- roofing
- insulation
- fire proofing
what are main types of asbestos
- chrysotile (main)
- crocidolite
- amosite
what colour is chrysotile
white
what colour is crocidolite
blue
what type of asbestos is most likely to cause asbestosis and mesothelioma
crocidolite
what is crocidolite resistant to
macrophage and neutrophil enzymatic destruction
what job causes asbestos exposure
- shipbuilding yards
- power stations
how long between exposure and disease
20-40 years
what cancer does asbestos usually cause
adenocarcinoma
what can asbestos cause on lung
- pleural plaques
- effusions
- bilateral diffuse pleural thickening
- mesothelioma
- asbestosis
- carcinoma of bronchus
what is seen on chest x-ray of asbestosis
- diffuse bilateral streaky shadows
- honeycomb lung
definition of asbestosis
fibrosis of the lungs caused by asbestos dust
symptoms of asbestosis
- breathlessness
- finger clubbing
- bilateral end-inspiratory crackles
what can show fibrosis when CXR cant
HRCT
treatment of asbestosis
none
corticosteroids sometimes prescribed
what is most common presentation of mesothelioma
pleural effusion
persistent chest wall pain
diagnosis of mesothelioma
video-assisted thoracoscopic pleural biopsy
treatment of mesothelioma
chemo with surgery
prognosis is very poor
what causes byssinosis
cotton mills
when do symptoms of byssinosis occur
on first day back at work after a break
symptoms of byssinosis
- tightness in chest
- cough
- breathlessness
who is affected by cotton dust exposure
asthmatics
what is beryllium jobs
- aerospace
- atomic reactors
- electrical devices
what is berylliosis similar to
sarcoidosis
symptoms of berylliosis
- progressive dyspnoea
- pulmonary fibrosis
what is Caplan syndrome due to
occupational dust inhalation
where is Caplan syndrome mostly
in right atrium
who else gets Caplan syndrome
- silica
- asbestos
what is seen on CXR of Caplan syndrome
round nodules
what does Caplan syndrome precede
fibrosis
