PNEUMOCONIOSES AND SILICOSIS: RISING ISSUES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

Pneumoconioses is a term used for the diseases associated with inhalation of mineral dusts. Certain types of pneumoconioses included in the definition are silicosis, asbestosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP), stannosis, and baritosis. Among these, silicosis, CWP, and asbestos-related diseases are the most well-known occupational diseases occur due to widespread exposures to silica, coal, asbestos, and various mineral dust in mining, quarrying, construction, and other manufacturing processes. Pneumoconioses has long latency periods and can often go underdiagnosed and unreported.  Their associated illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silico-tuberculosis, silica- and asbestos-related cancers often cause permanent disability or premature death.

In many industrialized countries, the intention in improving the occupational health of workers as well as environmental health of the community has been seriously managed. On the other hand, the issues of occupational respiratory diseases, particularly Pneumoconioses in other countries have been neglected. This literature review use data collected from Google Scholar and PubMed with keywords including Pneumoconioses in Vietnam, silicosis in Vietnam, occupational lung diseases, developing countries to locate relevant research. After that, we use criteria selection including year of research published, keywords to narrow down the number of references used in the paper. Out of 65 papers resulted from the first round of selection, there were 30 papers selected. The result provides summary of current situation of Pneumoconioses and silicosis in certain growing nations including Vietnam with potential interventions suggested to improve the health and environment of destination countries.