Usually fibrosis of the lungs that develops owing to (prolonged) inhalation of inorganic or organic dusts.

Note: Cause-specific types of pneumoconiosis are:

1. anthracosis: from coal dust.
2. asbestosis: from asbestos dust.
3. byssinosis: from cotton dust.
4. siderosis: from iron dust.
5. silicosis: from silica dust.
6. stannosis: from tin dust.