Causes Of Pneumoconioses

Inhaling Dust With Other Chemicals

Asbestos, silica, and coal are not the only substances that can cause pneumoconioses. Workers in a variety of occupations can get the disease by inhaling dust with other chemicals. A few examples are beryllium, cotton dust, and iron oxide dust. Beryllium is an industrial metal that affects aerospace workers and individuals who operate heavy machinery. It causes a form of pneumoconioses called berylliosis. Cotton dust is a danger to workers in textile factories. Textile workers are prone to developing a form of pneumoconioses called byssinosis. The risk can be mitigated if textile factories have proper ventilation. Iron oxide dust mainly affects welders and leads to siderosis. This can also be prevented if workshops have good ventilation.