coal miner's lung
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A lung disease caused by the long-term inhalation of coal dust.
Usage
This is a specific medical and occupational term. It is used to describe a chronic condition affecting individuals who work in coal mines. It is often discussed in contexts related to occupational health, industrial medicine, and workers' rights.
Examples
- Prolonged exposure without proper respiratory protection can lead to coal miner's lung.
- The documentary highlighted the historical prevalence of coal miner's lung in certain communities.
- Early detection programs are crucial for miners at risk of developing coal miner's lung.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used synonymously with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), which is the formal medical name for the condition.
- It can be discussed in a broader category of occupational lung diseases known as pneumoconioses, which also includes silicosis (from silica dust) and asbestosis (from asbestos fibers).
Variants and Related Words
- Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP): The formal medical term.
- Black lung disease: A common synonym, referring to the characteristic blackening of the lung tissue.
- Pneumoconiosis: The general category of lung diseases caused by inhaling mineral dust.
Synonyms
- Black lung disease
- Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP)
Notes on Meaning
This term refers specifically to the disease caused by coal dust. It is not a general term for any lung problem a miner might have. The condition involves the accumulation of coal dust in the lungs, leading to inflammation, scarring (fibrosis), and impaired lung function over time.
Noun
- lung disease caused by inhaling coal dust