Popcorn Worker's Lung

Occupational airway diseases are common workplace injuries that include occupational asthma, bronchitis, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, and byssinosis (an airway disease affecting textile workers). The population prevalence of these syndromes is not known with certainty, but some studies suggest that as many as 15 percent of adult patients with asthma have airway disease attributable to workplace conditions.1 Within different industries, the prevalence of these syndromes varies from sporadic to frequent (10 percent or greater). The mechanisms of these injuries may involve immune sensitization, but often the disease mechanisms are unknown and are presumed to involve nonallergic, irritant-mediated responses to inhaled . . .