UNDERSTANDING
COPD
COPD CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
What causes COPD?
Smoking
Smoking is the number one cause of COPD. 4
- Cigarette smokers are more than 2 times more likely to develop COPD than non-smokers.13
- Smoking a hookah (water pipe/hubbly) carries almost a 3 times higher risk of developing COPD than non-smokers.13
- Those who are merely exposed to tobacco smoke have 1.4 times more risk to develop COPD than those not exposed.13
- If you have ever used an e-cigarette (vape), even if you have stopped, you have a 76.6 % higher chance of developing COPD than those who have never vaped.14
Exposure to irritants
People who work in an environment with high levels of dust, fumes, vapours and gases are also severely at risk of developing COPD.
Coal dust
people may even be at risk after they stopped working in such an environment for a long time
Organic dust
as often found in the textile industry or paper mills
Asbestos and cement
Chemicals
from welding fumes, cadmium and other irritants
Gases
such as nitrous fumes, sulphur dioxide and chlorine often obtained from cleaning agents
Coal dust
people may even be at risk after they stopped working in such an environment for a long time
Organic dust
as often found in the textile industry or paper mills
Asbestos and cement
Tobacco smoke is an irritant that often aggravates Asthma; as does air pollution, strong odours or
fumes.
Chemicals
from welding fumes, cadmium and other irritants
Gases
such as nitrous fumes, sulphur dioxide and chlorine often obtained from cleaning agents
- Cement workers and cement/coal miners
- Iron, steel and ferrochrome workers
- Building services
- Records processing and distribution clerks
- Construction and trade workers
- Mechanic and repair jobs
- Farming and agriculture workers
- Repair services/gas station workers
- Cleaners
- Spray painters
- Food products manufacturing
- Paper mill workers
- Freight, stock and material handlers
- Warehouse stock handlers and stackers
- Highway and tunnel workers
- Armed forces
- Gardeners and park keepers
- Pottery workers
- Healthcare workers
- Railroad workers
- Rubber, plastics and leather manufacturing workers
- Sculptors, painters, engravers and art restorers
- Silicon carbide smelter workers
- Welders
- Wood workers
Gender and weight
Other causes
- Genetic disorders (some are very rare)
- Being born prematurely or with a low birthweight
- Repeated lung infections during childhood
- Severe asthma
- Asthma combined with smoking
Find out more
About COPD and its symptoms
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term that involves two conditions called chronic bronchitis (bron-ki-tis) and emphysema. A person could have only one or both of these conditions at the same time.8