Pneumoconiosis UNS

What is it?

Pneumoconiosis is a group of interstitial lung diseases caused by long term dust inhalation. It usually affects miners, builders and other workers who regularly breathe certain kinds of dust. Coalworker’s Pneumoconiosis, or miner’s lungs, refers to inhalation of coal or carbon. Other common exposures can be aluminium, asbestos, silicosis (grinder’s disease), bauxite, beryllium, iron, cotton, tin oxide, and talc. Depending on the size of the particle, it reaches different sites in the lung and can cause injury if not removed. Macrophages accumulate as a result of particle impaction, and trap the particulates. Then, products that mediate inflammatory reactions are released from macrophages and fibroblast proliferation initiates- causing a firm scar tissue that makes it harder for the lung to expand. For people who also smoke cigarettes, the effects worsens.