Lung cancer risks include not just pollutants but also birds, cheese and even coffee beans

Our lungs are the interface between blood and air. Their role in oxygenating our bloodstream is their primary function, and they bear the brunt of a lot more than just pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Borne upon the air are numerous chemicals, pollutants and particles that can generate many patterns of lung disease.

Inner-city pollution can lead to inhalation of gases including nitrogen dioxide, which have been shown to affect other respiratory diseases like asthma. Coal dust led to a condition known as emphysema – known today as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – in miners.

But some inhaled particles can cause unusually named diseases of their own and are more common in people who have certain jobs – or indeed certain pastimes. Asbestos is perhaps the best known example.

The history of asbestos is long and ultimately malignant. It is a naturally occurring substance – a strong, durable and heat-resistant material – and was once used extensively in the construction industry and in shipbuilding.

When asbestos breaks apart, it releases fibres into the air that can easily be inhaled. In migrating into the respiratory tract, it can first affect the lungs, generating a form of scarring that prevents them from inflating normally. This is called asbestosis.

It can also move outwards to irritate...

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