Lung
Pneumoconiosis
Other pneumoconiosis
Author: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D.
Last author update: 1 September 2011
Last staff update: 16 April 2021
Copyright: 2003-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: pneumoconiosis [title] "aluminum"
Table of Contents
Aluminum | Anthracosis | Berylliosis | Siderosis | Case reports | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) descriptionCite this page: Weisenberg E. Other pneumoconiosis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/lungotherpneumoconiosis.html. Accessed April 2nd, 2025.
Aluminum
- Chronic exposure to high concentrations of fumes during aluminum arc welding causes severe pneumoconiosis with diffuse pulmonary accumulation of aluminum metal and reduction in lung function (distinct from siderosis or welder's pneumoconiosis)
- Disease also described in manufacturers of aluminum abrasives (Shaver's disease), aluminum smelters and polishers
Anthracosis
Berylliosis
- Due to heavy exposure to dusts or fumes of beryllium, more common in nuclear and aerospace industries
- Acute disease has disappeared due to exposure standards
- Low dose exposure may cause granulomatous lesions that mimic sarcoidosis
- Chronic berylliosis due to cell mediated immunity
- 2% of those exposed develop disease; delayed hypersensitivity leads to noncaseating granulomas in lungs and hilar nodes, which become progressively fibrotic; no symptoms until late
- Heavy beryllium exposure is linked to lung cancer
Siderosis
- Associated with iron workers and welders
- Welders exposed to fumes with metal oxide particles 0.1 to 1.0 μm in diameter (iron, titanium, manganese and aluminum)
- Lungs usually heavily pigmented without significant fibrosis
- Aluminum (separate topic) has higher risk for significant pulmonary disease
- Concurrent cigarette smoking, asbestos exposure may complicate clinical and pathologic findings
- Micro: dust within interstitium, usually iron predominates
Case reports
- 2 aluminum welders who died of complications (Hum Pathol 2002;33:819)
Gross description
- Aluminum: slate gray metallic appearance in scarred areas and peribronchial lymph nodes
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Aluminum: patchy pleural thickening, emphysematous blebs, pneumothorax and considerable fibrous replacement of lung tissue with aluminum containing macrophages; granulomatous disease has been described
