Question- Diamond polishers are an occupational group that has been reported to develop dust related occupational asthma (OA). What is the etiology for this particular form of OA?
Answer- The cited article notes “Diamond polishers……… develop asthma as a result of exposure to cobalt dust. The dust is generated from high-speed grinding disks coated with abrasive microdiamonds embedded in binding cobalt powder.” (Wilk-Rivard E and Szeinuk J. Occupational asthma with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in a diamond polisher. 2001 Env Health Perspect 109:1303-1306)
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