Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background. Primarily responsible for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the inhalation of hazardous substances. Alongside the most common means of toxic substance inhalation, i.e., cigarette smoking, the main cause of COPD in industrialized countries is inhalation of hazardous substances in the workplace. Objectives and methods. The current literature on work-related causes of COPD was stratified and summarized. Particular attention was paid to the difference to occupational asthma. Results. Vapors, dust, gas, and fumes are workplace substances that can cause COPD, especially after many years of exposure with unfavorable occupational health conditions. Workers in the metal processing and agricultural industries are particularly affected. The expert assessment of occupational COPD ex-hibits special features regarding the evaluation of causality, the "prohibitive injunction", and the ability to work. Conclusion. In both non-smokers and smokers, inhalant noxious substances in the workplace can cause COPD or considerably contribute to its development. Only by early detection of the relationship between an affected person's pulmonary disease and their occupational exposure can preventative measures be effectively initiated. It is thus important that the treating physician have good knowledge of possible triggers and occupations with a particularly high risk potential.