Metal-induced lung disease: Lessons from Japan's experience

Abstract

Metals inducing occupational respiratory diseases, e.g. metal fever, acute and chronic pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer are described. The metals mentioned are the following: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lithium, manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum, rhodium, rare earth metals, titanium, uranium, vanadium, welding, zinc, zirconium. With respect to these metals, mechanism of the disease, disease statistics, case reports, diagnostic methods, patho-physiology of the disease, and preventive measures including occupational exposure limits are also described. Experience in Japan on these issues is given in detail.