Lung Conditions

Also called Pneumoconiosis. Some occupations can lead to exposure to substances that, when inhaled, can lead to problems in the respiratory system, such as chronic inflammation and scarring of the lungs.


Actinomycosis - caused by exposure to Actinomyces bacteria, such as Actinomyces israelii or Actinomyces gerencseriae. It can also be caused by Propionibacterium propionicus.
Alluminosis – caused by exposure to alluminium dust.
Anisakasis - Caused by exposure to anisakid nematodes (worms) that can invade the stomach wall or intestine of humans. The transmission of this disease occurs when infective larvae are ingested with raw or undercooked fish or squid.
Anthracosis - caused by exposure to coal dust.
Asbestosis – caused by exposure to astbestos dust.
Aspergillosis – caused by exposure to fungi of the genus Aspergillus.
Bagassosis – caused by exposure to moldy molasses (bagasse).
Bagpipe Lung Disease - caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease. See here.
Baritosis – caused by exposure to barium dust.
Berylliosis – caused by exposure to beryllium dust.
Bird Fancier's Lung Disease - caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (avian proteins) from feathers and bird droppings. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease. Also called bird breeder's lung, pigeon breeder's lung or poultry worker's lung.
Bituminosis - caused by exposure to soft coal dust.
Blastomycosis – caused by exposure to the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. The fungus lives in moist soil and in association with decomposing organic matter such as wood and leaves.
Brevitoxicosis - caused by brevetoxin, produced by dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis. Also calledred tide poisoning.
Brucellosis – caused by ingestion of Brucella bacteria via unpasteurized milk.
Byssinosis – caused by exposure of cotton dust.
Chalicosis - caused by exposure to fine particles of stone. Also called flint disease.
Cheese Washer’s Lung Disease - caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (Penicillum casei or Penicillum roqueforti) from cheese casings. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Chemical Worker's Lung Disease - caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen [Toluene diisocyanate (TDI), Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) or Methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI)] from paints, resins and polyurethane foams. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Coccidioidomycosis - caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The fungus is known to live in the soil in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. Also called San Qaoquin Valley Fever.
Coffee Roaster’s Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (coffee bean protein) from coffee bean dust. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease. Also called Coffee Worker's Lung Disease.
Compost Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (Aspergillus) from compost. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Detergent Worker's Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (Bacillus subtilis enzymes) from detergents. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Dracunculiasis - caused by an infection with the Guinea-worm (Dracunculus medinensis). Also called Guinea-worm disease.
Echinococcosis - caused by an infection with tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. The two most important forms in humans are cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis) and alveolar echinococcosis. Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or soil, or after direct contact with animal hosts.
Farmer's Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (several molds and bacteria) from moldy hay, reulting from hay that was not dried properly. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease. This disease is most prevalent in damp climates.
Fibrosis – formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue in a reparative (positive) or reactive (negative) process.
Gnathostomiasis - Caused by an infection with the nematode (roundworm) Gnathostoma spinigerum or Gnathostoma hispidum. Also called larva migrans profundus.
Fluorosis - caused by exposure to the high fluorine in clay that was used as a briquette binder for fine coals in Western China.
Hemosiderosis - caused by accumulation of Hemosiderosis (AmE) or haemosiderosis (BrE). It is a form of iron overload disorder resulting in the accumulation of hemosiderin.
Histoplasmosis – caused by exposure to a fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, found in soil, often associated with decaying bat guano or bird droppings.
Hot Tub Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (Mycobacterium avium) from mist from hot tubs. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Hydatidosis - caused by the larval stages of cestodes (tapeworms) of the genus Echinococcus.
Laboratory Worker's Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen (male rat urine protein) from laboratory rats. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Legionellosis – caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria.
Melioidosis – caused by exposure to a bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical environments.
Miller's Lung Disease – caused by an immunological response to an inhaled antigen, the wheat weevil (Sitophilus granarius) from dust-contaminated grain. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease.
Mucormycosis - caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. It most commonly affects the sinuses or the lungs after inhaling. Previously called zygomycosis.
Nocardiosis - caused by exposure to a bacterium of the genus Nocardia, most commonly Nocardia asteroides or Nocardia brasiliensis. It affects either the lungs (pulmonary nocardiosis) or the whole body (systemic nocardiosis).
Ornithosis - see Psittacosis
Paragonimiasis – caused by the lung fluke (Paragonimus westermani). More than 30 species of trematodes(flukes) have been reported.
Pasteurellosis - caused by exposure to a species of the bacterial genus Pasteurella.
Platinosis - caused by exposure to soluble salts of platinum.
Pneumoconiosis – caused by exposure to ash from a explosive volcano.
Psittacosis – caused by exposure to a bacterium, Chlamydophila psittaci, and contact from a variety of birds species.
Ricinosis - caused by exposure to ricin, a highly toxic, naturally occurring lectin produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis.
Sarcoidosis - a disease of unknown etiology, but it is suspected that it may be due to an immune reaction to an infection in those who are genetically predisposed. It involves abnormal collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomas. The disease usually begins in the lungs, skin or lymph nodes.
Schistosis – caused by exposure to dust from slate.
Selenosis - caused by exposure to selenium. Exceeding the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 400 micrograms per day regularly may result in lung problems.
Sequoiosis - casued by exposure to moldy redwood sawdust, contaminated with the fungus Pullularia pullulans or species of the genus Graphium.
Siderosis – caused by exposure to iron or iron oxide particles.
Silicatosis - caused by exposure to silicates (minerals with metallic ions bound to silica), such as talc, mica or kaolin.
Silicosis – caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust.
Silicosiderosis – caused by exposure to dust containing particles of iron ore and silica.
Sparganosis - caused by exposure to the larvae of the genus Spirometra including Spirometra mansoni, Spirometra ranarum, Spirometra mansonoides, and Spirometra erinace.
Sporotrichosis - caused by exposure to a fungus called Sporothrix. This fungus lives throughout the world in soil and on plant matter such as sphagnum moss, rose bushes and hay. Also called rose gardener's disease. However, infected animals, especially cats, can also transmit the fungus to humans through direct contact with the animal’s injured skin.
Stannosis – caused by exposure to tin oxides including stannous oxide (SnO) and stannic oxide (SnO2).
Suberosis – caused by exposure to a fungus, Penicillium glabrum, from exposure to moldy cork dust.
Tabacosis - caused by exposure to tobacco dust.
Talcosis – caused by exposure to talc, a hydrated magnesium silicate.
Torulopsosis - caused by exposure to Torulopsis glabrata, a yeast that is a normal inhabitant of the oropharynx, GI tract and skin. 
Toxocariasis - caused by the ingestion of larvae of the dog roundworm Toxocara canis or the cat roundworm Toxocara cati. The soil of parks and playgrounds is commonly contaminated with the eggs of both species, and infection may cause human disease that involves the liver, heart, lung, muscle, eye, and brain.
Tuberculosis – caused by exposure to strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

More to come. If you know one that isn't listed yet, please let me know here.