ABSTRACT
The lungs are the body’s main interface with the environment. Every minute around 5 litres of air is breathed in and out, and interfaces with an alveolar surface the size of a tennis court. It is therefore not surprising that most lung disease is caused by inhaled environmental agents. Cigarette smoke is the commonest cause of lung disease but people often encounter their most challenging environments at work. Occupational exposures contribute substantially to the common lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer, and they cause a number of unique problems such as pneumoconiosis.
