CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Time now, though, for some business buzz. Smoking is known as a leading cause of lung disease, and now we're learning about another significant cause for the disease. Carrie Lee live at the Nasdaq market site in New York with information about workplace pollution. Well this is scary.</s>CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It is scary, Carol, that's because exposure to toxins and fumes in the workplace may cause as many as five million cases of deadly lung diseases called COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Now more than 100,000 people die each year from these diseases. The cost to the economy is about $30 billion a year, this according to the National Institute for Health. Smoking is still the No. 1 cause of these diseases, but a new study now shows that on-the-job pollutants may be more significant than previously thought. And workplace pollutants include things like vapors, gases and smoke. Now the study found that exposure to these toxins on the job, regardless of whether a person smokes or not, may cause about a third of all COPD cases. The researchers didn't break down the risk according to job description, but they did say firefighters, miners, bakers and textile workers are often exposed to dust and debris which can cause lung diseases. And the study also says workplaces should take a bigger role in reducing COPD by improving the control over hazardous exposure. So hopefully, Carol, the word will get out there a little bit and workplaces will improve conditions for people.</s>COSTELLO: Hopefully so. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq market site. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
COPD Kills More Than 100,000 Americans a Year