Mysterious Diseases

 Labrador lung is a chronic lung disease that is caused by breathing in dust that has a mixture of iron, silica and a type of asbestos called anthophylite.  Labrador lung, which is a form of pneumoconiosis, received its name because it was found in miners in Labrador, Canada.

Symptoms of Labrador lung are lung opacities, pleural thickening, impaired lung function, lung fibrosis, breathing problems, cough, tight chest and wheezing.  There may be no symptoms during the early stages of the disease.

Miners, sandblasters and metal grinders have a high risk of the disease because of repeated inhalation of dust that contains the harmful mixture.  There is no cure for the disease and treatment is aimed at the individual symptoms.

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