Pneumoconiosis

Last revised by Daniel MacManus on 5 Jun 2024

Pneumoconioses are a broad group of lung diseases that are usually categorised as resulting from inhalation of inorganic dust particles 10. They are therefore considered part of the spectrum of inhalational lung diseases, and also occupational lung diseases.

The offending agents are mainly mineral dust. Pneumoconioses can be broadly classified as 2,3:

The term is derived from the Greek pneumon, meaning lung and konis, meaning dust, hence "dusty lung" 10.

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