Respiratory Diseases

What is a Respiratory Disease?

   The respiratory system is divided into two parts: the upper airway passage and the lower airway passage.  The upper passage includes the nose, mouth, and larynx.  The lower passage includes the area from the vocal cords down to the alveoli in the bronchial tree.  There are many different types of respiratory diseases that effect different levels of the respiratory system.  Common diseases include cancer, bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, asthma, cystic fibrosis, etc.  These diseases are all caused by the inhalation of some form of toxin.  Although some of the particles may not be dangerous in small amounts, overexposure could lead to detrimental health affects. 

How do particles get into the lungs? Why does size matter?

  The top way that particles from the environment get into the respiratory system is through inhalation.  This is something that humans rely on to survive, even though it's the transport of many diseases.  The overall idea is that the smaller the particle, the higher the chance it has to get deeper into respiratory tract.  The larger particles tend to camp out in the nose and mouth due to size and the fact that they are too large to travel farther.  These large particles range from about 2.5 to 10 microns.  The reason that we cough or sneeze is to get these particles out of our system and keep them from adventuring further.  The tiny particles have the ability to get further into the lung and have a more harmful affect.  The deeper these particles get within the respiratory system, the harder they are to get out of the system.  These small particles range from about 2.5 to 0.1 microns.  Those particles that are smaller than 0.1 microns have the ability to enter the blood stream which affects the whole body, not just the respiratory system.  

How do I avoid respiratory diseases?

   There are many ways to avoid these horrible diseases.  Many of the precautions that can be taken include avoiding places with large amounts of dust or wearing protective gear.  Avoiding the places with large amount of airborne toxins is the best way to ensure that the contact you have with the particles is minimal.  If the particles are present on a job site where you can't avoid them, the next best thing to do is to wear protective gear such as masks or ventilators.  The main thing that you can do to protect your health is to stay informed and educated.  Be aware of your surroundings and know what is or could be harmful to your health.  

Sources:

  Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

     http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/how_do.html

  American Lung Association

     http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/health-risks/health-risks-particle.html

  Minnesota Department of Health 

     http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/pm.htm

  Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease

     http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/lung.htm