COPD Due to Occupational Biomass and Grain Dust Exposure:Case Report

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD) is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterizedby persistent respiratory symptoms and air flow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usuallycaused by significant exposure to harmful particles or gases. The main risk factor for COPD is smoking but other environmental exposures such as biomass fuel exposure and air pollution may contribute. Besides exposures, host factorspredispose individuals to develop COPD. These include genetic abnormalities, abnormal lung development and aging.Our case is a 34 years old, male patient with complaints of dispnea with exercise. No pathological findings were foundon physical examination. There was no history of smoking. It was learned that the patient worked as a baker for a totalof nine years in the occupational history. While working in the bakery, there was biomass exposure and graindust exposure as indoor air pollutants. A mild degree of obstruction was detected in the pulmonary function test. Bronchodi lator reversibility response was negative.There was no abnormality on the chest X-ray and High-resolution computedtomography (HRCT). The α-1 antitrypsin and cystic fibrosis sweat test levels were within normal limits, and the cysticfibrosis gene test was negative. Occupational COPD due to occupational biomass and grain dust exposure was considered in the patient who had no smoking history and congenital risk factors. This case, which is currently working in theweapons industry but has been exposed to occupational COPD risk factors in the past, shows the importance of takinga detailed occupational history while taking an anamnesis.