title: Respiratory problems - occupational and environmental exposures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The respiratory tract comes into contact with approximately 14 000 litres of air during a standard working week. The quality of the air we breathe has major implications for our respiratory health. Any part of the respiratory tract, from the nose to the alveoli, may be adversely affected by exposure to airborne contaminants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article outlines some common occupational and environmental exposures that can lead to respiratory problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some of the effects of exposures may be immediate, whereas others such as asbestos-related lung disease may not present for many decades. Airborne contaminants may be the primary cause of respiratory disease or can exacerbate pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion and question their patients with breathing problems about occupational and environmental exposures, especially in the setting of new onset symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital and Research Fellow, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and HealthSciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria. r.hoy@alfred.org.au
authors.forename: Ryan F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational