Pneumoconiosis is part of a group of interstital lung disease caused by breathing in certain kinds of dust particles that damage the lungs. It is considered an occupational lung disease as one is likely to be exposed to these dusts only in the workplace e.g. sandblasting which causes silicosis (due to inhalation of silica), and cement piping and ship building which cause asbestosis (due to inhalation of asbestos fibres).
Pneumoconiosis usually takes years to develop.