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Definition of Disease, occupational
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Disease, occupational: A disease due to a factor in a person's occupation. For example, lung disease in miners.
Occupational medicine was founded by the Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714). His De Morbis Artificium (On Artificially Caused Diseases) published in 1700 was the first systematic study of occupational disease. He recognized the relationship between metals such as lead and antimony and the symptoms of poisoning in painters and other artisans exposed to them. Ramazzini also recognized diseases associated with a number of other occupations including lung disease in miners.