Pneumoconiosis is the disease associated with
inhaling dust particles, and is defined as the reaction of the lung tissue to
the presence of dust. When inhaling dust particles or any other type of
particle into your lungs, it may cause some kind of effect on the body, or may
show no signs at all. Inhaling dust particles can stimulate different reactions
and cause an increase in the production or secretion of mucus, when breathing
in these particles they can also cause an inflammation of tissues. “Many dusts,
when inhaled, can cause changes in lung tissue that affect the lungs breathing
or gas exchange functions. The most sever response would be changes in the
tissues that lead to sever lung damage or to the development of cancer.”
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health and Safety, “inhalation is the most important route of exposure in the
workplace.” Particulates deposited in the lungs can happen through
interception, impaction, sedimentation and diffusion. Interception is when a
particle is stopped when reaching the surface of the airway passage. Impaction
is when the particles are dispersed into the air and travel on the original
path. Sedimentation is the gravitational forces and resistance of the particle
staying up and diffusion is the motion of particles, this form deposits the
particles on the lung walls.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
stated, “Studies have indicated that low solubility nanoparticles are more
toxic than larger particles on a mass for mass basis.” When breathing in
different types of particles our bodies are exposed to a large number of diseases.
Many are not detected immediately; they can develop or worsen over time. The Environmental
Protection Agency states that “the size of particles is directly linked to
their potential for causing health problems. Small particles less than 10
micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems because they get deep into
your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.”
Basics of Industrial Hygiene by Debra Nims
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