New trends in occupational and environmental diseases: the role of the occupational hygienist in recognizing lung diseases.

This review deals with some of the emerging events that are assuming increasing relevance as work-related respiratory diseases (indoor air pollution and sick building syndrome, respiratory toxicity of formaldehyde, pollutant-induced asthma, dental technician lung diseases, lung cancer from diesel exhaust, environmental silicosis). The industrial hygienist's role in recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards is stressed as an essential contribution to both prevention and diagnosis of occupational lung disease.