Industrial bronchitis

Definition:
Industrial bronchitis is an inflammation of the large airways of the lungs of workers who are exposed to dusts, fumes, mists, fogs, or smoke.

Alternative Names:
Occupational bronchitis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Exposure to dusts, fumes, strong acids, and other airborne chemicals causes this type of bronchitis. Smoking is a contributing factor. A risk factor is occupational exposure to dusts such as asbestos, talc, silica, cotton, flax, and coal.

Associated diseases include occupational asthma, chronic bronchitis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and asbestosis.




Review Date: 7/17/2002
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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