Our lungs are pretty remarkable organs, tirelessly working behind the scenes, filtering the air, and keeping us alive without so much as a peep. These remarkable organs expand and contract over 20,000 times a day, drawing in the life-sustaining oxygen we need and expelling carbon dioxide.
But while they perform these crucial tasks effortlessly, they’re not invincible. What if I told you these silent warriors face daily battles against hidden enemies in our environment?
Whether it’s the dust from a nearby construction site or fumes from industrial pollution, our lungs are constantly under attack. Even invisible forces like chemicals lurking in everyday products can do some serious damage to our lungs.
Today, we’re here to uncover four lung diseases that are caused by the sneaky toxins present in our environment.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a lung condition that develops after long-term exposure to asbestos, a material that was once widely used in construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing.
The common symptoms of this lung condition involve persistent coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. These occur due to the trapped asbestos fibers in your lungs for a significant amount of time.
Over time, the trapped fibers scar the lining of your lungs, which restricts their normal expansion, essential for the breathing process.
While asbestosis can take years—even decades—to develop, it’s important to recognize that the damage is irreversible. The symptoms might start off mild, but they can worsen over time, severely impacting your quality of life.
So far, no medicine or treatment can cure asbestosis. However, there are medications that you can take to manage its symptoms and improve your breathing. If you’ve worked in industries where asbestos exposure was common, regular check-ups can help catch the disease early and prevent further complications.
TorHoerman Law notes occupational asbestos exposure is the leading cause of asbestosis. While the governments of most countries have put strict regulations regarding these fibers in the workplace, the cases continue to rise.
Construction workers, miners, electricians, boilermakers, and carpenters are most likely to be diagnosed with asbestosis due to exposure at work. If you’re one of them and share a similar diagnosis, filing an asbestosis lawsuit can help you receive compensation for your sufferings.
While some workers prefer to go through the process themselves, others prefer to hire an asbestosis lawyer to help with the legalities. Earlier this year, the US made a powerful decision to mitigate the nationwide risk of asbestos exposure.
In March 2024, the Biden administration finalized the ban on the last asbestos type still used in the US – chrysotile asbestos.
Commonly referred to as “white asbestos,” it’s used in brake pads, cement, roofing materials, and several automotive parts. Asbestos has already been banned in 50 other countries before the US, the New York Times reports.
Which Other Disease Is Caused by Asbestos Exposure?
Besides asbestosis, mesothelioma is another disease primarily linked to asbestos exposure. According to the National Health Service (NHS), it is a type of cancer that develops in the outer lining and covers several organs of our body. However, the lining of our lungs is its main target. There’s no cure for mesothelioma.
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
An umbrella term covering a variety of lung disorders, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) essentially relates to the scarring in the lungs. As we’ve noted above, a scarred lung lining results in stiffness, making it harder to breathe. This can naturally lead to an insufficient supply of oxygen in your bloodstream.
If you’re dealing with ILD, you might notice symptoms like a dry cough, shortness of breath, and feeling unusually tired. Unfortunately, these symptoms can gradually worsen over time, making daily activities more challenging.
Now, you might wonder how this all starts. While ILD can have several causes, one major factor is exposure to environmental toxins. Breathing in asbestos, silica dust, or certain harmful chemicals – be it at work or at home – sets off inflammation in the lungs.
For those who are wondering about the treatment of these diseases, Mayo Clinic has some bad news.
It reports that no treatment can reverse the scarring ILD causes in your lungs. In fact, there isn’t a guarantee that it will even be able to prevent its progression. That being said, there is a likelihood that they can improve your quality of life, which is why most patients prefer to take them.
How Is ILD Diagnosed?
Because ILD includes a large number of lung disorders, its symptoms are also diverse, making its diagnosis challenging. For a definitive diagnosis, doctors must rule out other conditions these symptoms point towards. Imaging and pulmonary function tests are necessary for the diagnosis, followed by lung tissue examination in some cases.
Silicosis
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling tiny particles of crystalline silica, a mineral found in materials like sand, stone, and concrete. When you breathe these particles in, they get inside your body, settling cozily in the lungs. Over time, their presence progresses to scarring and inflammation of your lungs’ inner lining.
The result? Your lungs stiffen, making it harder to breathe and causing symptoms like persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Unfortunately, once the damage is done, it’s irreversible, and the symptoms can worsen, significantly impacting your quality of life.
Environmental toxin exposure, particularly in workplaces like construction sites or industries dealing with stone cutting, is a major contributor to silicosis.
A recent case in California highlights this danger. Workers in the engineered stone industry – specifically those handling materials used in countertops – got sick due to exposure to silica dust.
According to a 2023 UCSF report, the engineered stone used in kitchens and bathrooms has led to a spike in silicosis cases among workers. Some of these workers even face life-threatening conditions as a consequence of the condition.
The report revealed that 20 of the 52 Californian engineered-stone workers have been diagnosed with advanced silicosis, with 10 of them already dead.
This example is a stark reminder of the hidden dangers in our environment, highlighting the need for proper safety measures and awareness.
Does Silicosis Lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?
Yes, it does. The NHS notes COPD as just one of the serious, potentially life-threatening diseases that Silicosis can make us vulnerable to. Other conditions include arthritis, heart failure, Tuberculosis (and other chest infections), and lung cancer. It also boosts your chances of having pulmonary hypertension and kidney diseases.
Our lungs are pretty incredible, but they face a lot of hidden dangers from the environment around us. They bring to the forefront the necessity of addressing the presence of these toxins so that we can protect ourselves from them. While the damage they cause is severe, awareness and preventive measures can go a long way in keeping our lungs healthy.
