Saturday, April 17, 2010

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis


According to Oxford English Dictionary, with 45 letters in all, the word of Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is currently the longest English word. It is a factitious word alleged to mean ‘a lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silica dust, causing inflammation in the lungs’.
Being a certified pneumologist I have never heard of such a condition so I would agree it's factitious. But is nice that the longest word in English comes near Pneumology (some say Pulmonology).
Just now it might become a reallity as most of Europe is under a cloud of volcano cinders from an eruption in Iceland. Thus far the cloud has grounded thousands of flights all over Europe and also incoming flights from all over the world. Apparently the sandpaper-like gritty cinders may seriously damage airplanes, both the fuselage and the turboengines.
If that is possible, you may infer what may cause in people's lungs if breathed: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Wow!

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