Pneumoconiosis is the general term for a class of interstitial lung diseases where inhalation of dust has caused interstitial fibrosis. The three most common types are asbestosis, silicosis, and coal miners lung. Pneumoconiosis often causes restrictive impairment, although diagnosable pneumoconiosis can occur without measurable impairment of lung function. Depending on extent and severity, it may cause death within months or years, or it may never produce symptoms. It is usually an occupational lung disease, typically from years of dust exposure during work in mining; textile milling; shipbuilding, ship repairing, and/or shipbreaking; sandblasting; industrial tasks; rock drilling (subways or building pilings); or agriculture. It is one of the most common occupational diseases in the world. Types
Depending upon the type of dust, the disease is given different names:

Coalworkers pneumoconiosis (also known as coal miners lung, black lung or anthracosis) – coal, carbon
Aluminosis – Aluminium
Asbestosis – asbestos
Silicosis (also known as "grinders disease" or Potters rot) – crystalline silica dust
Bauxite fibrosis – bauxite
Berylliosis – beryllium
Siderosis – iron
Byssinosis –  Byssinosis is caused by cotton dust inhalation and typically demonstrates a different pattern of lung abnormalities than most other pneumoconiosis. Chalicosis – fine dust from stonecutting
Silicosiderosis (also sometimes called iron miners lung) – mixed dust containing silica and iron
Labrador lung (found in miners in Labrador, Canada) – mixed dust containing iron, silica and anthophyllite, a type of asbestos
Stannosis – tin oxide
Talcosis – talc
Baritosis - a benign type of pneumoconiosis caused by barium inhalation; it typically causes little  or no overgrowth, hardening, and/or fibrosis.
Tobacco smoking worsens the effects of all inhaled mineral dusts, more so with asbestos than with any other particle. Diagnosis
Typical indications on patient assessment include:
Cough
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Chest X-ray may show a characteristic patchy, subpleural, bibasilar interstitial infiltrates or small cystic radiolucencies called honeycombing, particularly in advanced disease.Pneumoconiosis in combination with multiple pulmonary rheumatoid nodules in rheumatoid arthritis patients is known as Caplans syndrome. Epidemiology
The prevalence as of 2021 of pneumoconiosis is around 527,500 cases, with over 60,000 new patients reported globally in 2017. Prevalence has trended somewhat downward since 2015. The mortality of pneumoconiosis patients remained at a high level in recent years, with over 21,000 deaths each year since 2015. It is likely that pneumoconiosis is under-diagnosed and under-reported, especially in countries without highly developed healthcare systems. Treatment and Prognosis
Lung damage due to pneumoconiosis cannot be reversed. However, some steps can slow down disease progression and relieve symptoms. These include the prescription of medications and breathing treatments to open airways and reduce inflammation. Pulmonary rehabilitation and supplemental oxygen may also be recommended. A lung transplant may be needed in cases of serious diseases. If the patient smokes, smoking cessation is also important. Regular testing, such as X-rays or lung function tests, may be indicated to monitor disease progression. Prevention
To reduce the likelihood of developing pneumoconiosis, individuals working in affected industries should wear a mask, wash skin that comes in contact with dust, remove dust from clothing and wash the face and hands before eating or drinking.