There are a couple dozen other elements that are in there in trace amounts, but to a first approximation you're just a bag of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Now, it turns out that the atmosphere is a bag of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen as well, and it's not living.
Cigarette smoking is the most common irritant that causes emphysema. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoking can also cause emphysema, especially if the smoke is inhaled. Fumes and Dust. Breathing in other fumes and dusts over a long period of time may also cause the disease.
Familial emphysema: Introduction. Emphysema caused by genetic factors rather than smoking. Emphysema is lung damage which is mostly caused by smoking but in familial emphysema it is caused by the lack of the AAT enzyme which protects the elastin of the lung alveoli. ...more Â».mphysema is lung damage which is mostly caused by smoking but in familial emphysema it is caused by the lack of the AAT enzyme which protects the elastin of the lung alveoli. ... more Â».