What health manifestation results much later from long-term exposure to particulate matter in industrial settings?

Cancer or chronic respiratory disease

While some occupational dangers lead to immediate, acute traumatic injury—such as those seen in construction or mining—other hazards operate silently over decades. Long-term, continuous exposure to certain substances common in industrial environments, such as heavy metals or various forms of particulate matter, leads to a slow erosion of health. This chronic exposure does not typically cause immediate harm but significantly increases the probability of developing serious, chronic conditions like specific types of cancer or debilitating fibrotic lung diseases years or decades after the initial exposure began. This time lag makes tracking and attribution particularly challenging for public health analysis.