Silicosis
Prolonged exposure to silica leads to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. The disease can progress even after the cessation of silica exposure.[22]Vanka KS, Shukla S, Gomez HM, et al. Understanding the pathogenesis of occupational coal and silica dust-associated lung disease. Eur Respir Rev. 2022 Sep 30;31(165):210250.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9724915
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35831008?tool=bestpractice.com
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis
Like silicosis, the disease can progress even after cessation of exposure and can lead to severe disease that requires a lung transplant.
Chronic beryllium disease
Over 5 years, one third of patients with evidence of sensitization, a positive beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test, will go on to develop granulomas in their lung tissue. However, these people may still never develop symptoms or changes on pulmonary function testing.[12]Newman LS, Mroz MM, Balkissoon R, et al. Beryllium sensitization progresses to chronic beryllium disease: a longitudinal study of disease risk. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Jan 1;171(1):54-60.
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.200402-190OC
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15374840?tool=bestpractice.com
In addition to chronic beryllium disease, exposure to beryllium has also been linked to increased mortality from lung cancer, urinary tract cancer, and COPD.[15]Schubauer-Berigan MK, Couch JR, Petersen MR, et al. Cohort mortality study of workers at seven beryllium processing plants: update and associations with cumulative and maximum exposure. Occup Environ Med. 2011 May;68(5):345-53.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20952555?tool=bestpractice.com