Occupational Lung Disease/Exposures Flashcards
The clinical and pathologic expressions of most of occupational/exposure diseases are indistinguishable from ___________.
non-exposure-based cases
There is often a latency period between ___________.
exposure and development of disease
Clinical effects usually correlate with ________.
dose of exposure
What is the formula for dose of exposure?
Dose = duration x concentration
How does solubility affect where particles deposit in the lungs?
More water-soluble particles get stuck in the upper airways, and less water-soluble particles get stuck in the distal airways/bronchioles
Describe the relationship between particle size and where things are likely to get stuck in the lungs.
Greater than 10 microns: upper airways
Between 2.5 microns and 10 microns: bronchioles
Less than 2.5 microns: alveoli
What three questions are important to ask patients regarding occupational history?
Where do you work?
What job titles have you had?
What were your specific job duties?
What things should you focus on in gathering occupational details?
Specific exposures (e.g., asbestos, beryllium)
Symptoms in coworkers
Use of PPE
What is the most common cause of occupational asthma?
Isocyanates (a chemical found in spray paint)
What is the main difference between occupational asthma and RADS?
Occupational asthma has a latent period between exposure and symptoms.
What high molecular weight compounds cause occupational asthma?
Animal proteins
Baking flours
Enzymes
What low molecular weight compounds cause occupational asthma?
Isocyanate
Plicatic acid
Epoxy
Platinum compounds
What is RADS?
Reactive airway dysfunction syndrome
What is the pathophysiology of RADS?
Respiratory epithelium get damaged due to exposure to an irritant; symptoms rapidly develop (typically within 24 to 48 hours); frequently associated with strong acids or bases
What exposures can cause occupational COPD?
Biomass combustion
Vanadium
Organic dusts
Coal mine dust
What exposures can cause occupational constrictive/obliterative bronchiolitis?
Noxious gases such as oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
Diacetyl
What three groups are most at risk of asbestos exposure?
Construction workers
Dock workers
Mechanics who work on brakes
What is a foundry?
A metal-working plant
What industry uses beryllium?
The aerospace industry–beryllium is a lightweight metal
What are the three main determinants of site and severity of occupational lung disease?
Dose
Solubility
Particle size
Other than neoplasm, what can asbestos exposure cause?
Pleural effusion, pleural thickening, and atelectasis
What is the mechanism of injury in silicosis?
Silicate particles generate free radicals that induce inflammation; usually a long latency period
Describe hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Caused by exposure to animal dander/proteins
T-cell mediated reaction
Typically acute symptoms
Define pneumoconiosis.
(n.) a disease of the lung due to inhalation of dust
The pneumoconioses, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and chronic beryllium disease are all ___________ diseases.
interstitial lung
