Pneumoconiosis

Pneumoconiosis is a registered surveillance entity within Brazil's SINAN (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) occupational health framework, designated as a notifiable disease event for monitoring and investigation purposes ^[1]. Beyond its registry role, it is recognized as a spectrum of interstitial lung diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust in occupational settings, with chronic inflammation and progressive pulmonary fibrosis as its principal pathological features, and with silicosis, asbestosis, and coal workers' pneumoconiosis being among the most common forms ^[2][3]. The persistence and global burden of pneumoconiosis are linked to inadequate occupational protection and the absence of robust early diagnostic methods and effective treatments, and re-emergence has been documented in contemporary settings such as sandblasting and artificial stone benchtop manufacturing ^[4][2]. Although entirely preventable through exposure control, pneumoconiosis remains one of the most prevalent occupational diseases worldwide ^[4][3].