Term
| give a few examples of asphixiating gases |
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Definition
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Term
| give a few examples of irritant gases |
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Definition
| ammonia, chlorine, nitric oxide, ozone, phosgene, sulfur dioxide |
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Term
| how are irritant and toxic fumes different from irritant gases? |
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Definition
| irritant and toxic fumes are usually result of combustion, onset of effect is slower, manifest as acute flu-liek illness with long term health effects (irritant gases react with water of mucus membranes--> inflammation& damage --> immediate epithelial sloughing) |
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Term
| what are a few examples of irritant and toxic fumes |
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Definition
| metal fumes, polymer fumes, acid anhydrides (epoxy resins, plastics), mercury, cadmium fumes |
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Term
| examples of organic dust and particulates |
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Definition
| thermophilic fungi (unclean humidifiers, air conditioners, molded carpets) wide range of occupational exposure including air conditioning, farming, exposure to compost |
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Term
| how do organic dust and particulates exert their effect? |
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Definition
| immune reaction to particular antigen --> inflammatory rxn (constitutional sx, PFT abn first obstructive then later obstructive-restrictive) |
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Term
| what are the 2 subdivisions of work related asthma? |
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Definition
| occupational asthma (agents directly affect lung and may or may not induce IgE ab response to cause sx); work-exacerbated asthma (pre-existing asthma made worse by exposure at work) |
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Term
| describe the unique clinical presentation of work related asthma |
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Definition
| dual response - sx appear early in work day then abate and recur severl hours later (PFT parallel this dual nature) |
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Term
| what is reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS)? |
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Definition
| form of occupational asthma that occurs after a single exposure to high concentrations of irritants. no latent period, no dual response. |
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Term
| what is the best example of a mineral/inorganic dust we are exposed to at work? most dangerous form of this mineral? |
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Definition
| silica; quartz (silica crystal) found in mining and tunneling |
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Term
| how long after silica exposure do sx start? |
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Definition
| 5 years (can occur within months with intense quartz exposure) |
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Term
| what is the clinical syndrome assoc with silica intoxication? |
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Definition
| progressive massive fibrosis (constitutional sx --> dyspnea --> restriction-obstruction on PFTs & abn oxygen transfer --> upper lobe opacities with consolidation --> large nodules |
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Term
| how does silica exposure predispose to infections and which infection is most common? |
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Definition
| silica is toxic to macrophages --> susceptibility to infections, particularly TB |
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Term
| what is asbestos? what are the 4 kinds and which is most common in causing toxicity? |
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Definition
| silica in fibrous form (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite and anthophylite) toxicity most commonly seen with amphibole fibers (short, small aerodynamic fiber, able to avoid upper airway and lung filtering and clearance mechanisms --> distal areas of lung periphery reached --> toxic affect) |
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Term
| how long does one have to be exposed to asbestos for asbestos toxicity to manifest? |
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Definition
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Term
| what is the most sensitive test for detecting asbestosis? |
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Definition
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Term
| which types of jobs put people at risk for asbestos exposure? |
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Definition
| millers, miners, pipe fitters, insulation construction workers |
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Term
| describe the progression of coal worker's pneumoconiosis from least harmful to most harmful? |
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Definition
| simple pneumonconiosis (dust laden macs accumulate around bronchioles, asymptomatic, UL nodules, normal PFTs) --> complex CWP (several years to develop, large black fibrotic scars, decreased lung func) --> progressive massive fibrosis (black lung, aggregated nodules, inflammation, fibrosis, large nodular lesions --> necrotic d/t ischemia --> large cavities --> death by hypoxic respiratory failure) |
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Term
| what are a few compounds that are known to cause lung cancer? |
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Definition
| vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, asbestos, coal products, radioactive elements (uranium, radon) |
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Term
| high exposure to popcorn flavoring agents is associated with what kind of lung damage/ |
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Definition
| neutrophilic airway inflammation |
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Term
| world trade center lung = persistant cough, usually assoc with what other 3 sx? |
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Definition
| dyspnea, GERD, nasal congestion |
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