Early recognition of occupational lung diseases is difficult as the latent period for such diseases may be as long as 15 years for silicosis and 30 years or more for asbestos (1332214) related cancers. Other factors such as cigarette smoking may obscure the relationship between the disease and the exposures at the work place. Occupational lung disease is caused by the inhalation of toxic substances present in the work environment. Background information on asbestosis, byssinosis, silicosis, and coal worker's pneumoconiosis is presented. The proposed strategy for preventing occupational lung diseases includes agent oriented strategies (including environmental hazard surveillance, medical hazard surveillance, and hazard removal), exposure oriented strategies (regulatory enforcement, control technology, education and training), and worker oriented strategies (health promotion and smoking, worker knowledge of exposure and control measures, disease surveillance). Specific recommendations are made for asbestos, cotton dust, silica (7631869), and coal dust.