Call us today for a confidential and free consultation with Paul & Hanley, LLP.  We are one of the nation's leading toxic tort litigation law firms  We'll discuss your specific case and give you honest answers to your important questions.

Our toll-free number is:  (800) 933-2244.  At Paul & Hanley we look forward to helping you.

To Prevent spam please:
1 + 3 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Our Office Locations

Northern California
1608 Fourth Street,
Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: 510-559-9980
Fax: 510-559-9970
Map

Southern California
5716 Corsa Ave,
Suite 203
Westlake Village, CA 91362
Phone: 818-865-2807
Fax: 818-865-0805
Map

811 W. Seventh St.
Suite 206
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: 213-689-3278
Fax: 213-689-4309
Map


Environmental Lung Diseases

Environmental lung diseases are caused by harmful gases, mists, particles or vapors that are inhaled. This typically happens in the workplace but can also happen in the home.  The term pneumoconiosis is often used if the lung disease is due to inhaled particles rather than gases or vapors.  Where within the airways or lungs an inhaled substance ends up and what type of lung disease develops depend on the size and kind of particles inhaled.  Large particles may get trapped in the nose or large airways, but very small ones may reach the lungs. There, some particles dissolve and may be absorbed into the bloodstream.  Most solid particles that do not dissolve are removed by the body's defenses.  However, the lungs are not able to remove other toxic minerals like asbestos leading to a number of diseases.

The body has several mechanisms to remove rid of inhaled particles.  In the airways, an accumulation of secretions (mucus) coats particles so that they can be coughed up more easily. Additionally, tiny cells lining the airways (cilia) are able to sweep inhaled particles upward and eventually out of the lungs.  In the small air sacs of the lungs (alveoli), special scavenger cells (macrophages) engulf most particles and render them harmless.  Asbestos fibers and carbon nanotubes however are too long and skinny for macrophages to surround and therefore cannot be made harmless.

Many different kinds of particles can harm the lungs. Some are organic, meaning that they are made of materials that contain carbon and are part of living organisms (such as grain dusts, cotton dust, or animal dander).  Some are inorganic, meaning that they usually come from nonliving sources, such as metals or minerals (for example, asbestos).

Different types of particles produce different reactions in the body.  Some particles—animal dander, for example—can cause allergic reactions, such as hay fever–like symptoms or a type of asthma. Other particles cause harm not by triggering allergic reactions but by being toxic to the cells of the airways and air sacs in the lung.  Some particles, such as quartz dust and asbestos, may cause chronic irritation that can lead to scarring of lung tissue (pulmonary fibrosis).  Certain toxic minerals like as asbestos can cause lung cancer or cancer of the lining of the chest and lung (mesothelioma).

 
Who Is at Risk of Environmental Lung Diseases?

Asbestosis

Construction workers who install or remove materials (including insulation) that contain asbestos
Shipyard workers
Workers who mine, mill, or manufacture asbestos


Benign pneumoconiosis

Barium workers
Iron miners
Tin workers
Welders


Beryllium disease

Aerospace workers
Metallurgical (castings) workers


Bronchiolitis obliterans

Flavorings workers (popcorn workers' lung)
 

Byssinosis

Cotton, hemp, jute, and flax workers
 

Coal workers' pneumoconiosis

Coal workers
 

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Office workers (because of air-conditioning systems contaminated by certain fungi and bacteria)
Swimming pool and spa workers (because of contaminated sprays)
Farmers, mushroom workers, bird keepers, people exposed to isocyanates (urethanes)
 

Mesothelioma

Construction workers who install or remove materials (including insulation) that contain asbestos
Shipyard workers
Workers who mine, mill, or manufacture asbestos

Occupational asthma

People who work with grains, western red cedar wood, castor beans, isocyanates (urethanes), dyes, antibiotics, epoxy resins, tea, and enzymes used in manufacturing detergent, malt, leather goods, latex, jewelry, abrasives and paints used in automobile body repairs, animals, shellfish, irritating gases, vapors, and mists
 

Silicosis

Certain coal miners (for example, roof bolters who work at the face of a mining operation)
Foundry workers
Lead, copper, silver, and gold miners
Potters
Sandblasters
Sandstone or granite cutters
Tombstone makers
Tunnel workers
Workers who make abrasive soaps
 

Silo filler's disease

Farmers