Interstitial lung disease

Purpose of review 

We highlight recent advances in the understanding of how environmental and occupational exposures increase the risk of developing interstitial lung disease (ILD), and how to evaluate a patient for potential exposures.

Recent findings 

• Globally, coal workers pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and asbestosis remain the most important pneumoconioses.
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and asbestosis can be challenging to differentiate clinically, and there is clear evidence for an occupational contribution to IPF.
• Bacterial contamination of metal working fluid has recently emerged as an important cause of occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis.