Occupational Respiratory Disorders: Definition and Types

Introduction

There are many types of respiratory disorders that affect the breathing rate and respiration process in human beings. Several respiratory organs in our body work together. If any one of the respiratory organs stops functioning, one will witness serious hassles in breathing and respiration. One should be aware of the common respiratory disorders and ways to protect yourself from them. Respiratory disorders are classified based on their driving factors and occurrence. Among all the respiratory disorders, occupational respiratory disorders occur commonly in the world. Read on to know about occupational respiratory disorders definition and their symptoms.

Occupational respiratory disorder: definition

Occupational respiratory disorders are something that you get from work. Exposure to toxins over a long period at work can cause occupational respiratory disorders. The occupational respiratory disorder is a collective term for several disorders that originate from workplaces. Occupational respiratory disorders can be caused due to the inhalation of chemicals, fumes and dust particles at workplaces.

Some of the common industries where workers experience respiratory hassles are coal, bangle, acid, paint and cotton industry. When workers inhale toxic substances for a longer period, the respiratory organs start losing their functionalities. Many occupational respiratory disorders depend on the toxic substance that causes them. Let us know about some common occupational respiratory disorders occurring at workplaces.

Common occupational respiratory disorders

Some of the common respiratory disorders that originate from workplaces are as follows:

• Black lung disease
• Silicosis
• Asbestosis
• Allergic alveolitis

Besides the common occupational respiratory disorders, several forms of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema can also originate by inhaling toxins at workplaces. Let us know about the common occupational respiratory diseases in detail.

Black lung disease

Black lung disease, also called CWP (Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis), is commonly observed among coal workers. Workers in coal mines and factories are continuously exposed to coal dust. Inhaling coal dust over a longer period can over-inflate the lungs. CWP can lead to fibrosis or necrosis in coal workers. Primarily, coal workers suffer from anthracosis which is asymptotic. However, anthracosis takes the form of CWP if ignored. Nodular aggregations known as coal macules are formed in the upper region of the lungs in CWP patients. Usually, the size of coal macules in CWP patients is less than or equal to 4mm.

Silicosis

Silicosis is one of the common occupational respiratory disorders that occurs due to the continuous inhalation of crystalline silica dust. It results in the inflammation of the lungs followed by nodular lesions (small lumps) in the upper portion of the lungs. The symptoms of silicosis are high temperatures, cough, breathlessness, shorter breaths and bluish skin (cyanosis). According to the last recorded data, silicosis caused around 43,000 deaths in 2013. The death toll shows that silicosis can become a life-threatening disorder if ignored during the early stages.

Asbestosis

Many industry workers are involved in mining asbestos fibres, which are silicate minerals found in nature. During the mining of asbestos fibres, minute particles are suspended in the air which may not be visible to the naked eye. Due to inhalation of minute particles of asbestos fibres, asbestosis occurs in workers. The symptoms of asbestosis include breathlessness, shorter breaths, coughing, wheezing and stiffness in the chest. Asbestosis requires long exposure to asbestos fibres and happens to workers that directly work with asbestos fibres. According to the last-recorded data in 2015, around 157,000 patients suffered from asbestosis.

Allergic alveolitis

Due to inhalation of aerosols that are antigenic, allergic alveolitis occurs. Dust particles originating from animals and vegetables also cause allergic alveolitis. The lungs of patients suffering from allergic alveolitis over-inflate. Also, the gas exchanging capability of the respiratory system decreases. It is also termed extrinsic allergic alveolitis as its root cause originates from outside the body. The symptoms of allergic alveolitis are muscular aches, breathlessness, shorter breaths, chest stiffness, dry cough and weight loss. If you are showing any signs of allergic alveolitis and are an industry worker, you should immediately seek medical advice.

Besides the above occupational respiratory disorders, many other diseases originate at workplaces. Other things that can cause respiratory disorders with their dust are talc, cotton, wood, pesticides, etc. Occupational respiratory disorders classification can also be based on exposure to several toxic fumes. Industry workers should take necessary precautions to avoid any occupational respiratory disorder.