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The presence of considerable amounts of
inhaled pigmented particulate materials in the lungs of the majority of
persons, especially those in urban centers, attests to the state of the
environment.
Environmental Pathology Online
The most common condition, anthracosis,
is seen in the lungs of almost every adult and is most noticeable in
smokers.
Black pigments is localized subpleurally
in irregular patches, in the hilar lymph nodes, and around bronchi
and intrapulmonic vasculature.
Microscopically, the pigment consists of
coal-like dust in lymph nodes and alveolar macrophages and around
capillaries and larger vessels.
Such material is apparently bland, since
it does not appear to incite either inflammation or scarring. However,
it may be accompanied by toxic substances, including polycyclic
hydrocarbons, which are cytotoxic and account for the deleterious
effects of cigarette smoking.
( Visit:
Pneumoconiosis
;
Coal Pneumoconiosis
;
Diagram showing Pathogenesis of Pneumoconiosis
)
Pneumoconiosis of coal workers
is a serious condition encountered in anthracite coal miners. It
develops over a period of years and leads to extensive deposition of
black pigment in the lung. The impairment of respiratory function after
the development of
emphysema
indicates that the dusts causing pneumoconiosis may not be identical to
the common dusts responsible for anthracosis.
Visit:
Pulmonary Pathology Online

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