Causes and Risk Factors of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)

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The most common cause of COPD is cigarette smoking; about 20 percent of smokers develop lung disease. Other causes of COPD are:

breathing in dust and chemicals (vapors, irritants, and fumes), and coal dust or silica at work
indoor air pollution from cooking fuels and heating in poorly ventilated homes
secondhand smoke
childhood lung infections that can lead to problems in adulthood
inherited factors