The Screening and Diagnosis Technologies Towards Pneumoconiosis: From Imaging Analysis to E-Noses

Pneumoconiosis, as the most widely distributed occupational disease globally, poses serious health and social hazards. Its diagnostic techniques have evolved from conventional imaging and computer-assisted analysis to emerging sensor strategies covering biomarker analysis, routine breath sensing, integrated electronic nose (E-nose), etc. All of them both have special advantages and face shortcomings or challenges in practical application. In recent years, the emergence of advanced data analysis technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), has provided opportunities for large-scale screening of pneumoconiosis. On the basis of a deep analysis of the characteristics of the technologies for screening and diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, this paper comprehensively and systematically reviews the current development of these technologies, especially focusing on the research progress of emerging sensor technologies, and provides a forecast for their future development.