Talk:Pneumoconiosis

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Is that stuff about black beans real? Or am I just an idiot who got duped. - kaliyarivet

doesn't the lung have mucous and cilia to remove particles like this? - Omegatron 15:17, Jun 8, 2005 (UTC)

Yes, but fine particles do get deposited in the lungs all the time. Particles such as silica dust and asbestos fibers that cannot be removed by the macrophages can cause respiratory diseases. Hfwd 23:39, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

The small particulate matter under 2.5 micrometers in size is not removed by the body, and accumulate over time. Some other sources of this dust include wood dust from woodworking or construction activity, and fiberglass that breaks off of loose or batt fiberglass insulation. Some this dust is large enough to be visible to the naked eye, but some of it is too small to see and is missed by filters. Most air filtration systems and vacuum cleaners are unable to trap much of that dust, and end up pumping more of the dust through the house, unless HEPA filters are used. That this dust will eventually cause respiratory illness is generally agreed by workplace regulatory agencies in the US (OSHA) and Europe. See this source: [1]:

Research shows the most long term health problems come from exposure to airborne dust. Most airborne dust particles are smaller than 30-microns which is about one third the diameter of a human hair. Over time most with continued exposure develop chronic sinus, throat, and respiratory infections. If we don't stop constantly taking in these larger particles they eventually cause permanent lung damage, emphysema, and worse. If we stop inhaling these larger particles, our bodies eventually do a good job removing them. Unfortunately, we are not nearly so good at clearing the finest under 2.5-micron sized particles. These very fine particles slip right past our natural protections and often lodge deeply in tissues where they clear poorly. The accumulation of these finest particles triggers increased sensitivity and allergic reactions that become more severe as our immune systems weaken with age. When inhaled the larger of these particles make us sneeze and cough followed by watery eyes, runny noses, deeper coughs, sinus infections, lung infections, and mild rashes. Like smoking, some will never show worse symptoms, but most develop more severe reactions that lead to ear, nose, throat, respiratory, and skin infections.

Luciuskwok 00:13, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

"Research shows the most long term health problems come from exposure to airborne dust." That's crap. :-) The most common long-term health problems, like heart disease, cancers, diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome and Alzheimer's have nothing to do with airborne dust. The only common health problem that I can think of that has something to do with dust is asthma, and it might not even be caused by dust (one problem with that is why asthma rates are increasing in areas where the air pollution has decreased). I believe that the person made that statement to sell products that are supposed to reduce airborne dust. He has a big advertisement for one product (they thank him on their website and recommend that people visit his website) and he sells ad space for woodworking products.

People have made similar claims for many other things. For example, people might say that undigested food that stays in your intestines is the number one cause of disease (they call it intestinal plaque, but it does not really exist according to surgeons and coroners). Then they'll sell you some clay that expands inside you when it gets wet. Then you'll have what is probably the most painful bowel movement of your life and think that the black stuff is toxins when it is really the expanded clay. Other people might say that household mold, processed food, lead paint or carbohydrates is the biggest cause of health problems, but it is all nonsense. -- Kjkolb 13:51, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Means exactly the same"?

The following statement is not quite true:

The term "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis" was coined in 1935 as the putative longest word in the English language, but means exactly the same as pneumoconiosis

According to the pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis page, the meanings are slightly different; the longer word is specifically used for a pneumoconiosis due to a volcano. I removed the section, but if someone wants to re-word it to make it more accurate, please go ahead. Alki 16:30, 24 May 2007 (UTC)