You don’t have to smoke to develop COPD. Don’t become a statistic…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not exclusive to smokers. I knew one non-smoker who expired from it, and a smoker who quit decades ago but has a hobby that is the more likely cause of his COPD, which now requires him to use oxygen 24/7. COPD is not a single disease, but rather a term for several lung and airway diseases that restrict your breathing. People with COPD have airway inflammation and scarring, damage to the air sacs in their lungs or both. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both forms of COPD. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)).
Smoking, of course, is the most common way people get damage in their lungs, but we know there are many other things floating in the air that can do the same, so the Cleveland Clinic lists four other causes of COPD:
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Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (“alpha-1”), a genetic disorder that can lead to lung damage.
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Secondhand smoke.
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Toxins in the air.
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Exposure to dust and fumes from your job or hobbies.
The tragedy is that four out of the five are mostly, if not totally preventable (we can’t help your genes, but scientists are no doubt working on that). Many people know the dangers of smoking, but did you know that vaping is tied to an increased risk of developing asthma or COPD? If you both smoke and vape, watch out. Researchers say that the data also suggest that odds of developing COPD may be as much as six times greater when people report they both vape and smoke tobacco regularly, compared with those who don’t use any tobacco products at all. (‘Vaping’ Increases Odds of Asthma and COPD)
Secondhand smoke is a big problem for children and dependents of smokers. Those who cook or heat their homes with wood or other combustible fuel are also at risk of respiratory illness because of the toxic combustion products that build up inside the home. For these reasons, children and low-income people frequently suffer in their health because they don’t have control over their polluted environment. Today, there are many places in the world where people also cannot afford to remove themselves from toxic air outdoor pollution, such as Delhi in India. They know the poor air quality causes their illnesses and asthma, but they can’t afford to protect themselves properly (masks and air purifiers are too costly or not effective enough) or move out of the area.
Similarly, we just published a story about a town in the UK where many people in the late 80’s and 90’s did not know the dangers of inhaling the dust around them, which happened to contain heavy metals from the steel mill reclamation project undertaken by the city council. Sadly, the combination of heavy metals and carcinogens in the dust was the likely cause for an increase in birth defects of children born in that town during that time.
However, you can avoid inhaling toxins in the air if you know about them and can afford to do something about it. We want to focus on the “jobs and hobbies” that increase your risk of developing COPD:
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The non-smoker I knew who passed away from COPD was a seamstress for over 50 years. She worked at home sewing formalwear, drapes and uniforms, as well as doing alterations, and her small sewing room was often covered in a fine dust from the fabrics she cut and ran through the sewing machine.
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The smoker who is experiencing COPD now didn’t really smoke that long, maybe 10 years, compared to his hobby of wood carving, which has extended almost 50 years. Woodcarving, especially with power tools, generates A LOT of dust, and there are various appliances and filters for clearing most of the dust out of the woodshop air, but it’s not complete; fine particulates are still floating around. Several studies confirm that working with wood, predominantly as a career but also as a frequent hobby, increases chances of developing COPD. Factors including the types of dust deposited in the lungs and the duration of exposure, affect lung function. (Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function impairments among woodworkers in Gondar City)
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Are you a landscape worker? A bandana simply doesn’t cut it against fine particulates and gas engine exhaust.
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Do you work with fiberglass, drywall, stone, or anything where you are often exposed to fine dust? In fact, construction workers in general are at significantly increased risk of COPD. In a study of construction workers, overall COPD prevalence was 13.4% and 67.4% of cases were classified as moderate to severe (with comparison to 3.8% in the general population). The highest risk trades were cement masons/bricklayers and roofers. (COPD risk among older construction workers—Updated analyses 2020)
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If welding is your job, there is an association between welding fume exposure and significantly increased risk of COPD (15%). (Welding fume exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in welders)
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In fact, the CDC, citing a study of survey data that followed nearly 8,000 people for 20 years into retirement, lists a large swath of blue-collar industry that are at increased risk for COPD:
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mining
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blast furnaces
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steelworks
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rolling and finishing mills
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groceries and related products
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automotive repair shops
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specific occupations such as maids and housemen (due to dust and cleaning products), farmworkers (due to dust and pesticides), vehicle/mobile equipment mechanics and repair workers (due to dust, paint and hydrocarbon fumes), material-moving equipment operators (dues to dust and hydrocarbon fumes), and non-construction laborers (like the seamstress above).
Whether it’s your job or a passionate hobby, you still have a choice: wear protective gear to filter out the particles and/or fumes, or take the chance of having to endure coughing and wheezing, illness, being dependent on oxygen tanks and dying prematurely. There are different types of masks available to filter different pollutants, so if your workplace doesn’t provide them, these masks are still an investment worth researching and buying. If any kind of blessing could be extracted from the COVID epidemic, it is the frequent use of masks everywhere and the lessening/removal of stigma of wearing one. Go ahead, take charge of your future respiratory (and overall) health by making the decision to wear a mask when the air around you is not good for breathing!
