Overview of Environmental Lung Diseases

Environmental lung diseases are illnesses caused by harmful particles, mists, vapors, or gases in the air that you breathe.

Some people get ill from the air outside (air pollution-related illness). Other people get sick from air they breathe in buildings where they live, work, or go to school (building-related illness).

Most people with an environmental lung disease got it from something at work. For example:

• People who work with cotton, flax, or hemp can get byssinosis

• Coal workers can get black lung

• People who work around asbestos can get asbestosis, mesothelioma, and asbestos-related pleural disease

If you already have a lung disease such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma, things you breathe in can trigger an attack.

The symptoms of environmental lung disease are like those of many lung disorders:

• Trouble breathing

• Cough

• Chest pain

• Sudden wheezing

Doctors will ask whether your symptoms come on only in certain places and times. They will ask about your work and what substances may be in the air. Doctors may do:

• Breathing tests

• Imaging tests such as chest x-ray or CT (computed tomography) scan

If you have air pollution at work, follow guidelines from government agencies to limit the gases, dust, and fumes you breathe.

See your doctor regularly for screenings to check for lung problems, if you are exposed to harmful air pollution or other substances.