Definition

A lung disease caused by breathing in dust from cotton, flax, or hemp, leading to symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing.

Example

Workers in the textile industry are at risk of developing byssinosis due to prolonged exposure to cotton dust.

Conversation

Have you heard about byssinosis?

Yeah, isn't that the disease related to cotton dust exposure?

Exactly! It's pretty serious and can cause a lot of breathing problems.

I read that it can lead to irreversible lung issues if not treated.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Byssinosis is derived from "byssus" (from Greek "bussos", meaning fine linen or cotton) and the suffix "-osis" (meaning a condition or disease). The term refers to a lung condition caused by inhaling cotton dust, linking the fine fabric to the health issue.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fine linen' ('byssus') causing a 'condition' ('-osis') in the lungs — that's why byssinosis refers to a lung disease related to cotton dust.

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