Ask a Doctor
My grandpa worked at a concrete plant all his life and was never a cigarette smoker. Even though he didn’t use tobacco, his doctor just diagnosed him with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – emphysema, specifically – after a month of coughing fits that never got better. I though you could only get emphysema from smoking. Is it possible my grandpa’s case is work-related? How do you get emphysema?
Doctor’s Response
The main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema, is smoking. Up to 90% of people with COPD are smokers, though non-smokers can also develop the condition.
Other causes of COPD and emphysema include the environment. Exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, dust, chemicals (often work-related) and fumes can lead to COPD.
Some people have a rare form of COPD called alpha-1 deficiency-related emphysema, which is caused by a genetic condition that affects the body's ability to produce a protein that protects the lungs.
