Dust Inhalation in Relation To Pulmonary Disease

¹ Senior Industrial Hygiene Physician, Division of Industrial Hygiene and Safety Standards, New York State Department of Labor.

There are a number of types of pulmonary pathology which can be caused by the inhalation of excessive quantities of particulate matter, varying from specific fibrotic reactions with a characteristic picture to an increased incidence of a form of pathology usually considered non-industrial in origin. Size, composition and structure of the particles are all factors determining the nature of the response. Pathological reactions generally result when the capacity of the filtering and phagocytizing mechanisms of the respiratory tract are exceeded. These reactions may be fibrotic, inflammatory, degenerative, allergic, carcinogenic or merely mechanical impairment of function.

The best known cause of pneumoconiosis is free crystalline silica, but amorphous silica, silicates, and even silicon carbide have been shown to exert deleterious effects. Coal dust, certain metals, and a few organic compounds, have also been indicated as the cause of specific lung pathology. A careful evaluation of both the clinical picture and the occupational history is necessary in every case of chronic pulmonary disease to rule out a possible etiological or aggravating factor in the patient's working environment, and to ensure an optimum prognosis by eliminating all future exposure to any harmful atmospheric agents found.