30-Year Trends in the Disease Burden, Incidence, and Prevention of Pneumoconiosis

The global incidence of pneumoconiosis,a lung disease caused by inhaling industrial dust,has increased by 61.5%from 1990 to 2019,according to a recent report.China had the highest number of cases in 2019,followed by India and the United States.The all-age standard incidence rate for pneumoconiosis was 2.39 per 100,000 population in 2019,with China also having the highest rate.However,there was a decrease in the incidence rate in Belgium and Italy during the same period.The report also highlights regional variations in the changing trend,with the largest increase in cases observed in North Africa and the Middle East.Improved dust prevention and control measures are urgently needed to reduce workplace dust exposure and combat the rising cases of pneumoconiosis globally.