Work-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. According to the 2001 World Bank/World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease report1 COPD is the sixth leading cause of death in developing countries, responsible for 4.9% of deaths. Despite smoking being the most important risk factor for this
disease, accounting for over 75% of cases of disease,1 occupational exposures, alone or in combination with smoking, are responsible for a substantial proportion of disease