94 - Industrial lung diseases

Summary

The category of industrial lung diseases includes diseases of the lung due to the inhalation of dust (such as coal dust) or chemicals, which damage the lungs.

See also Map 10 All respiratory deaths and Map 68 Lung cancer.

To a large extent this is a map of the industrial history of Britain. The male and female maps are very different, due to the differing industrial exposure of the two sexes. Male rates are highest in the coal-mining areas of the south Wales valleys, Yorkshire, Durham and the central belt of Scotland. Stoke also has high rates, probably related to the pottery industry, as does the Sunderland area, likely a legacy of the shipbuilding industry. The southern part of the country generally has very low rates. Female rates tend not to be as high as male rates, and are more dispersed. The highest female rates are found in the north west around Manchester, reflecting mill work, and in Glasgow.

While the coal-mining industry is perhaps the most notorious cause of industrial lung disease, a range of other industrial settings can also be hazardous in this respect, such as working with spraying paints onto textiles, exposure to chemical batteries and popcorn factory work.