Common Occupational Lung Diseases

With advanced scientific and medical technologies, we are now more aware of potential hazards to our health. Despite this knowledge, though, not everyone enjoys protection against other particles that cause damage to the lungs. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 outlines rights for people while on the job, it is not always enough to protect employees from some common occupational lung diseases.

There are many different kinds of occupational lung disorders that depend on the type of particle that you inhale. Additionally, the amount and frequency of exposure can also affect the severity of your disorder. Sometimes, one lung disease can affect people across a variety of careers if they share a material in common. With others, a disorder is fairly specific to one type of job, such as coal miner's lung, or pneumoconiosis.

In order to protect yourself from developing an occupational lung disease or worsening any damage you already have, it is important to be aware of the particles and workplace situations that can result in health problems. Some common types of occupational lung diseases include:

• Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung Disease) - results from the inhalation of coal dust
• Silicosis - occurs when you inhale free crystalline silica, which can be found in mines and blasting sites as well as facilities that process stone, glass, or clay
• Byssinosis (Brown Lung Disease) - happens when a person inhales dust from textile processing facilities that handle cotton, hemp, or flax
• Beryllium Disease (Acute and Chronic) - results from inhaling beryllium dust or fumes, which can be found in electronic, aerospace, and weapons manufacturing plants
• Bronchiolitis obliterans - a rare lung disorder that happens when you inhale industrial byproducts such as dyes or chemicals like diacetyl, a butter flavor used for popcorn
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis - a broad family of diseases caused by inhaling fungi from different sources, such as bird droppings or moldy hay
• Occupational asthma - causes asthma-like symptoms that occur when you inhale irritants in the workplace, such as the fumes at refiners and processing plants

You rely on your lungs to bring fresh, oxygen-rich air to your bloodstream as well as to remove poisonous carbon dioxide waste from your blood. If your lungs suffer from scarring due to to workplace irritants, pollutants, and particles, you can permanently suffer from coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, among other things. This is unacceptable.

If you have developed an occupational lung disease, you need to pursue compensation. Contact an experienced Raleigh workplace injuries lawyer from Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC today to discuss your case.

James Witherspoon