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Work-Related Respiratory Diseases

 

May 2010
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2010-144
cover of 2010-144

Many respiratory diseases are almost exclusively caused by workplace exposures, including silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, and chronic beryllium disease. According to state-based surveillance data (1990-1999), the following diseases have a high percentage of deaths in the Manufacturing Sector compared to other sectors: silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, all pneumoconiosis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (World Report 2007).