Occupational and environmental lung disease: asbestosis and other asbestos-related lung disease

Asbestosis is often classified separately from pneumoconiosis even though asbestos is a dust -but it is a special form of fibrous dust. Like silicosis, asbestosis is a serious condition which is incurable and can result in death at an early age. However, as is the case with many harmful substances it does require a certain inhaled dose of asbestos before there is a measurable risk of asbestosis.

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis can be caused by sensitisation to many organic dusts mainly fungal spores, e.g. farmer's lung and malt worker's lung. It tends to affect the respiratory units of the lung rather than the conducting airways and may have 'flu' like symptoms in addition. In some respects it is similar to humidifier fever which might be caused by sensitisation to amoebae or algae.

Inhalation of oil mists may cause asthma, airways irritation, lipid pneumonia or other conditions depending on their composition.