What does byssinosis mean?
<answer> Byssinosis is a chronic, asthma-like narrowing of the airways. <context> Byssinosis Definition. Byssinosis is a chronic, asthma-like narrowing of the airways. Also called brown lung disease, byssinosis results from inhaling particles of cotton, flax, hemp, or jute. Description Although inhaling cotton dust was identified as a source of respiratory disease more than 300 years ago, byssinosis has been recognized as an occupational hazard for textile workers for less than 50 years.