Dust Lung

The condition colloquially known as Dust Lung has been recorded for centuries, but until relatively recently it was only understood to be a problem faced by dwarven miners, and hence study was mainly the purview of the Dwarven Mining Guilds. 
For generations, mining dwarves have warned of the dangers of breathing in particles of certain minerals, which they suspected to cause long term lung damage. Given that dwarven physiology is already well adapted for resilience, and their prolific facial hair serves to filter most particles, the significance of the damage should not be underestimated. 
The earliest dwarven records show that Dust Lung was already recognized as a condition by pre-Sundering dwarves of the legendary city of Khazheim, and although records were lost in the Sundering, oral traditions preserved enough information to ensure that precautions were taken. Additional protective filtering equipment was developed, and miners trained to use it with any substance not already proven safe.
While this did not fully prevent mining dwarves from inhaling particles, it reduced the intake greatly, and delayed the build up within the lungs, such that it did would rarely become problematic until a dwarf was approaching their natural lifespan, therefore retirement of any miners showing symptoms to live 'topside' became standard practice for managing the condition. As a side effect of this management of the condition, however, the impetus to find cures for Dust Lung was lost.
However, recent developments have brought a new perspective on the condition. Parallels were drawn with a condition emerging among particular sections of the elven community of Njordmark, where breathing difficulties were compounding over time. Had it been anywhere other than the Diarchy of Njordmark, where the Elven and Dwarven leaders rule alongside one another, it might perhaps had gone unrecognised, but in Njordmark the relevant experts were brought together.
The conditions were found to be effectively one and the same, although the elven physiology was less well adapted, and their craftsmen unaware of the dangers. It was discovered that a seam of dangerous mineral had risen to the surface near elven settlements, and was eroding slowly into the air. In addition, glass craftsmen had discovered the mineral, and taken to adding some to their wares, giving them greater strength, and a peculiarly twinkling shine.

Type

Physiological