Pneumoconioses, benign

Disease/Syndrome
Pneumoconioses, benign
Category
Pneumoconiosis (Pulmonary Fibrosis)
Acute/Chronic
Chronic
Synonyms
Baritosis; Stannosis; Siderosis; Benign pneumoconiosis
Comments
The most common benign pneumoconioses are siderosis (iron), stannosis (tin), and baritosis (barium). Chest x-rays of workers with benign pneumoconioses show small opacities caused by lung retention of one of these radiopaque metals. Workers are asymptomatic and have normal pulmonary function studies. The x-ray changes gradually resolve after the workers are removed from exposure. Tin and barium miners may also be exposed to silica. [Rom, p. 526, 537; Rosenstock, p. 410] Other metals with high radiodensity that can potentially produce benign pneumoconioses are titanium, vanadium, zirconium, antimony, hafnium, and the rare earth metals. [Harber, p. 502] See "RARE EARTH METALS."
Latency/Incubation
Years to decades
Diagnostic
Chest x-ray
ICD-9 Code
503
ICD-10 Code
J63.4; J63.5; J63.8

Symptoms/Findings, Job Tasks, and Agents Linked to This Disease

Symptoms/Findings

Symptoms/Findings associated with this disease:

Job Tasks

High risk job tasks associated with this disease: