Occupational Respiratory Disorders

Introduction

The occupational respiratory disorder is a lung ailment acquired when exposed to certain chemicals, toxins or dust for a long duration of time. Occupational respiratory disorders are more often seen in developed countries as they have more industries that produce dust and hazardous gases. Materials breathed in the workplaces can cause major chronic lung diseases. Asthma has become the most common chronic occupational lung disease in developed countries. Pneumoconiosis is caused by silica or coal dust. 

Because of the difference in the genetic constitution and metabolism, particular occupational agents may cause different host susceptibility. Smoking cigarettes has a different impact on different people. Detecting a workplace-related cause of the occupational disorder is important to prevent and cure it.

Causes Of Occupational Respiratory Disorder 

  • Dust: Dust originating from coal, asbestos (asbestosis, lung cancer), silica (silicosis), wood, cotton, talc, pesticides, drug powders, and fibreglass can affect the lungs. Some cereal grains, coffee particles, and food flavourings can also damage the lungs

Example – Pneumoconiosis

  • Fumes or smoke: Fume or smoke arising from heating and cooling metal repeatedly and quickly or burning materials results in the suspension of fine particles in the air. Work-places involving these are welding, smelting, furnace work, pottery making, plastics manufacturing

Example – Cancer, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)

  • Spray: Spray from paints, lacquers, pesticides, acids, hair spray, oils, and turpentine

  • BCME (Bis (chloromethyl) ether): BCME can cause lung disorders like cancer

  • Inorganic elements: Beryllium, cadmium, chromium

  • Exhaust: Arising from diesel

Symptoms of Occupational Respiratory Disorders 

When some of the pollutants accumulate in the body beyond their normal concentration or are inhaled for long durations, they start to develop major symptoms which are: 

  • Coughing

  • Dry, sore, and scratchy throat

  • Fever

  • Running nose

  • Shortness of breath

  • Chest tightness or congestion

  • Chest pain

  • Alteration in breathing patterns

  • Body ache

  • Muscle ache

Classification of Occupational Respiratory Disorders

Listed here are some disorders that can be acquired at workplaces.

  • Occupational Asthma: Occupational asthma can be caused due to a variety of causes—some of them are sensitisation to a specific agent, which leads to an allergic reaction. Workers in isocyanate synthesising industries, using latex gloves, are on the verge of having occupational asthma. Allergic agents stimulate mast cells that release histamines. Histamines are responsible for causing allergic reactions, inflammation and constriction of respiratory pathways. Asthma is characterised by a wheezing sound and difficulty in breathing

  • COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease): COPD results in emphysema. Work-places like mining, construction, manufacturing industries (rubber, leather, textiles, plastic) have a higher risk of causing COPD. These workplaces have air surrounded by high amounts of silica and coal dust. When workers inhale this air, they start developing symptoms like congestion, suffocation, and difficulty in breathing

  • Lung Cancer: Aluminium, beryllium, cadmium, coke, coal gasification, arsenic, asbestos, bis-chloromethyl ether, metals, dust, ionising radiation, and fibres are the factors that can lead to the proliferation of lung tissues and eventually lung cancer

  • Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma can be defined as cancer of the mesothelium of the lungs. It usually occurs when a person is exposed to asbestos and starts developing symptoms of asbestosis, which leads to mesothelioma in the long term

  • Allergic alveolitis or farmer’s lung: When organic dust is inhaled, it causes inflammation of alveoli in the lungs as the dust particles act as allergic agents

  • Smoke inhalation: Carbon monoxide (CO) and cyanide are the major gaseous constituents of smoke that obstruct respiratory pathways. CO has a higher affinity to bind with haemoglobin than oxygen. As a result, it prevents oxygen from binding with haemoglobin and affects the effective transport of oxygen in the body. Cyanide affects the activity of ‘cytochrome oxidase’, which is responsible for the proper utilisation of oxygen

  • Pneumoconiosis (coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease): When dust mainly constitutes silica, asbestos, and coal dust and gets accumulated in the lungs in high amounts, it severely affects respiratory health

Diagnosis of Occupational Respiratory Disorders

For diagnosing occupational lung disorders, various tests and techniques are applied to analyse the type and severity of the disease based on symptoms arising in the body of the affected individual.

In the initial stages of diagnosis, a chest X-ray or CT Scan is usually performed. After that, further tests that can be performed are:

    • Biopsy or autopsy of tissue, cells, and fluids from the lungs (microscopic examination technique)

    • Biochemical and cellular studies of lung fluids

  • Measurement of respiratory or gas exchange functions

  • Examination of airway or bronchial activity

  • Pulmonary function tests: The tests are usually performed with special machines into which the person must breathe. They help measure the ability of the lungs to move air in and out effectively

Factors That Determine Treatment of Occupational Disorders

Following factors are responsible for deciding the treatment or medication of occupational respiratory disorders:

  • Age and overall health

  • Medical history

  • Type and extent of lung disease

  • Tolerance for specific medications, therapies, or procedures

  • Expectations for the course of the disease

Prevention of Occupational Respiratory Disorders

Occupational disorders can be prevented by taking the following measures:

  • Smoking must be avoided

  • Minimal exposure to pollutants—indoor as well as outdoor

  • Use of protective masks while working in areas having bad air quality 

  • Prevent infection

  • Regular check-ups

  • Exercise—running, brisk walking, cardio exercises, meditation, inhalation and exhalation exercises

  • Healthy and balanced diet

  • Proper sleep

  • Reduce stress

Conclusion

Occupational exposure is the main cause of almost all respiratory disorders. The contribution of the work environment to the development and in enhancing the disease is still not recognised and certainly under-reported. People are not aware of the severity of the disease. Government, media, and educated individuals should step ahead to make people aware of these diseases, and proper measures should be taken to avoid these disorders before it’s too late.

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