Documents pneumoconiosis 19 results

"Growing international exploitation of rare earth oxides (REOs) for commercial and biological use has increased the possibility of human exposure and adverse health effects. Occupational exposure to rare earth materials in miners and polishers leads to a severe form of pneumoconiosis, while gadolinium-containing MRI contrast agents cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with renal impairment. The mechanisms for inducing these adverse pro-fibrogenic effects are of considerable importance for the safety assessment of REO particles as well as presenting opportunities for safer design. In this study, using a well-prepared REO library, we obtained a mechanistic understanding of how REOs induce cellular and pulmonary damage by a compartmentalized intracellular biotransformation process in lysosomes that results in pro-fibrogenic growth factor production and lung fibrosis. We demonstrate that rare earth oxide ion shedding in acidifying macrophage lysosomes leads to biotic phosphate complexation that results in organelle damage due to stripping of phosphates from the surrounding lipid bilayer. This results in nanoparticle biotransformation into urchin shaped structures and setting in motion a series of events that trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation, IL-1? release, TGF-?1 and PDGF-AA production. However, pretreatment of REO nanoparticles with phosphate in a neutral pH environment prevents biological transformation and pro-fibrogenic effects. This can be used as a safer design principle for producing rare earth nanoparticles for biological use."

"The American oil shale industry is on the threshold of commercial industrial development. Potential occupational hazards include shalosis or oil shale pneumoconiosis, dermatoses, cancer of the skin, lung, and possibly other sites, and accidents. Air, water, and solid waste pollution problems are complicated by the aridity of the Green River oil shale formation located in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. The region currently lacks the schools, health facilities, community services, and skilled labor required for large-scale development. The oil shale industry faces an opportunity and a challenge of prudently assessing and controlling exposures and contributing to the social development of the region."

"This paper presents the profile of occupational respiratory diseases in the Czech Republic. In a retrospective study the author analyzes structure, causes, occurrence, and trends of occupational diseases. Between 1996 and 2000, a total of 2,127 new cases were recorded, of which 62.0% were pneumoconioses caused by dust containing free silica, 21.0% were occupational asthma or allergic rhinitis and the rest were divided between lung cancer (10.0%), asbestos-related disorders (4.4%) and variety of other respiratory diseases (2.7%). During the period of the investigations, the decreasing trend of occupational respiratory diseases, which began in 1992, has continued."

"Chest X-ray versus High Resolution Computed Tomography were compared in 93 workers exposed to dust. HRCT findings versus CXR were different in 34/93 cases.
HRCT proved light fibrosis (s1/2–s2/1) versus normal CXR in 8/93 cases.
HRCT was normal versus fibrosis (s1/2–s2/1) suggested by CXR in 4/93 cases.
HRCT was normal versus CXR doubtful about fibrosis (s0/1–s1/0) in 11/93 cases.
HRCT was positive about pleural plaques 31/53 asbestos exposed workers with lung fibrosis while CXR was positive only in 20/53 asbestos exposed workers, i.e. HRCT was superior versus CXR in 11 cases of pleural plaques.
Authors suggest indications of HRCT:
– after a long exposure to dust at negative CXR with decreased lung function tests
– if there is a suspicion in a dust exposed patient of other than dust inhalation aetiology fibrosis, too
– if malignancy is suspected, HRCT and helical contrast CT can help in diagnosing and staging the lung tumours and pleural diseases as well.
Usual morphology of lung fibrosis induced of whatever reason can change into unusual morphology after dust exposure. The role of the HRCT in the complex pneumoconiosis diagnosis offers a possibility for radiologists to use “smaller holes” for mass screening and categorising as positive CXR at the screening and/or to explain morphology if lung function tests found restrictive disorders, but CXR seems to be negative. "

"Pneumoconioses are caused by the inhalation and deposition of mineral dusts in the lungs, resulting in pulmonary fibrosis and other parenchymal changes. Many persons with early pneumoconiosis are asymptomatic, but advanced disease often is accompanied by disability and premature death. Known pneumoconioses include coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), silicosis, asbestosis, mixed dust pneumoconiosis, graphitosis, and talcosis. No effective treatment for these diseases is available (1). This report describes the temporal patterns of pneumoconiosis mortality during 1968--2000, which indicates an overall decrease in pneumoconiosis mortality. However, asbestosis increased steadily and is now the most frequently recorded pneumoconiosis on death certificates. Increased awareness of this trend is needed among health-care providers, employers, workers, and public health agencies. ..."

"Occupational lung disease has been a major public health problem in China. The recently transformed industrial structure and expansion of the industrial labor force, accompanying the rapid industrialization and economic growth, pose both tremendous challenges and opportunities for occupational health policy and research. New occupational health problems are emerging, while the traditional occupational lung disease continued to occur. Simultaneously, relevant scientific research and professional activities have accelerated notably. The progress and achievement in occupational health research are creating more powerful forces in eliminating industrial hazards and protecting workers' health in China."(Authors' abstract)

Coal production is one of the largest industries in Poland and incidence of coal miners' pneumoconiosis is high. Epidemiological data are derived from the national register of occupational diseases and from previous investigations performed in Poland. Analysis of dust concentration measurements shows that occupational exposure limits are exceeded in 90% of underground workplaces. The number of new pneumoconiosis cases diagnosed annually ranges from 400 to 800 and has been showing a diminishing tendency in the last five years. Recently, a new system of medical and technical prevention has been introduced in seven collieries. Nevertheless pneumoconiosis prevention needs to be improved throughout the sector.