title: Two Cases of Tsunami Dust Pneumonia: Organizing Pneumonia Caused by the Inhalation of Dried Tsunami Sludge after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
abstract: We report two cases of organizing pneumonia (OP) secondary to the inhalation of the dried tsunami sludge which formed during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the consequent tsunami. After the disaster, both of these patients had been engaged in the restoration work. About half a month later, they developed shortness of breath and pulmonary infiltrates. These patients were diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia. Their biopsy specimens revealed multifocal peribronchiolitis and OP. An electron probe microanalysis of these specimens demonstrated the presence of elements from the earth's crust in the inflammatory lesions. These two cases indicate that exposure to dried tsunami sludge can cause OP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamanda
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanagama
authors.forename: Hikari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Shinsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanai
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004190:Disasters; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D055866:Earthquakes; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012066:Relief Work; D012722:Sewage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057192:Tsunamis
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004391:Dust; D012722:Sewage; D011239:Prednisolone