Occupational Lung Disease Fact Sheet

November 2003

Occupational lung disease is the number one work-related illness in the United States based on the frequency, severity, and preventability of diseases. These diseases are usually caused by extended exposure to irritating or toxic substances that may cause acute or chronic respiratory ailments, although severe single exposures can cause chronic lung disease as well.

• Although occupational lung diseases are often not curable, they are always preventable. Improving ventilation, wearing protective equipment, changing work procedures, and educating workers are the key factors for prevention.

• Smoking can act synergistically to increase the severity of these diseases. Smokers who are exposed to carcinogens, such as asbestos and radiation, greatly increase their chances of getting lung cancer.

• Occupational lung cancer is attributable to inhalation of carcinogens in the workplace such as asbestos and certain coal and petroleum-related carbon compounds. In 1998, approximately 17,315 lung cancer deaths will be attributable to inhalation of these carcinogens in the workplace.

• Byssinosis (brown lung disease) is a chronic condition involving obstruction of the small airways, severely impairing lung function. It is caused by dusts from hemp, flax, and cotton processing. Between 1979 and 2000, byssinosis caused 134 deaths; more than 35,000 textile workers have been disabled by byssinoisis.

• Asbestosis is a progressive disease involving scarring of lung tissue as a result of exposure to the microscopic fibers of asbestos. Between 1979 and 1995, asbestos caused 3,564 deaths.

• Coal workers' pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease, is caused by the inhalation of coal dust. An estimated 4.5 percent of coal miners are affected; about 0.2 percent have scarring on the lungs, the most severe form of the disease. Between 1990 and 1999 there were more than 10,000 deaths and annual death counts increase by one-third.

• Silicosis results from exposure to free crystalline silica in mines, foundries, blasting operations, stone, clay and glass manufacturing. Silicosis substantially raises the risk of tuberculosis. Between 1979 and 1995, 2,594 deaths were attributed to silicosis. Each year 200 people die with silicosis listed as the cause of death on their death certificates, a rate that has been stable since the early 1990s. About 1.6 million workers are believed to have been exposed to silica dust, and almost 60,000 are expected to suffer from some degree of silicosis.

• Occupational asthma occurs when a worker is exposed to substances such as dusts, vapors, gases, or fumes that trigger an asthma attack. Occupational asthma represents an estimated 15 percent of the cases of adult asthma.

• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is caused by the inhalation of fungus spores from moldy hay, bird droppings, or other organic dusts. Repeated exposure causes the air sacs of the lungs to become inflamed; parts of the lungs may then develop fibrous scar tissue and cease to function normally in breathing.

For more information call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872), or visit our web site at http://www.lungusa.org.

*Racial and ethnic minority terminology reflects those terms used by the Centers For Disease Control.

View American Lung Association Nationwide Research Awardees for 2003-2004